Brig. Gen. Matthew S. Allen is the Director of Mission Integration A5/7M, Deputy Chief of Staff for Force Modernization, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this role, he helps ensure tomorrow’s Air Force remains capable of executing its missions in a rapidly changing global security environment, including protecting the homeland, maintaining strategic deterrence, and projecting power around the world. His directorate synchronizes mission architecture, operational analysis, wargaming and intelligence of future threats to guide capability development, force design, and modernization investments for tomorrow’s Airmen.
Brig. Gen. Allen entered the Air Force in 1999, receiving his commission from the United States Air Force Academy. He has served primarily in operational, command and joint assignments, including special operations and air component roles, deploying multiple times in support of combat and contingency operations. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels and held key headquarters and legislative affairs positions, where he helped connect operational experience to strategy, requirements, and modernization decisions for the Air Force. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Director of Current Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Foreign Area Studies, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Master of Policy Management, McConn Public Policy Intern, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Master of National Security Studies, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2020 Combined/Joint Force Special Operations Component Commanders Course, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2023 Air Force Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Washington, D.C.
2024 Air Force Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, MD
2026 Capstone, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1999–January 1998, Flight Commander, 509th Logistics Support Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.
2. January 2000–May 2001, Student, Special Tactics training pipeline, various locations
3. May 2001–September 2001, Assistant Flight Commander, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
4. September 2001–July 2003, Flight Commander, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
5. July 2003–July 2007, Flight Commander, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
6. July 2007–June 2009, Director of Operations, 321st Special Tactics Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
7. July 2009–January 2010, Special Tactics Branch Chief, Special Ops and PR Division, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. February 2010–May 2011, Aide-de-camp to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. June 2011–June 2012, Air Force Fellow, Georgetown University, McConn Scholarship, Washington, D.C.
10. July 2012–July 2014, Commander, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Army Air Field, N.C.
11. August 2014–July 2015, Deputy Commander, 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope AAF, N.C.
12. August 2015–Jun 2016, Student, National War College, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2016–July 2017, A3 Director, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
14. July 2017–June 2019, Commander, 720th Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
15. June 2019–June 2021, Commander, 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
16. July 2021–May 2024, Director, U.S. Special Operations Command Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C.
17. June 2024–March 2026, Director, Current Operations, A33, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. March 2026–present, Director, Mission Integration, A5/7M, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2016–July 2017, A3 Director, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid AB, Qatar as a colonel
2. July 2021–May 2024, Director, U.S. Special Operations Command Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C. as a colonel
DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
(Current as of June 2026)