John R. Allen

This article is about the U.S. Marine Corps general. For the United States Air Force general, see John R. Allen Jr. For other persons, see John Allen.

John Allen
President of the Brookings Institution
In office
November 6, 2017 – June 12, 2022
On leave: June 8, 2022 – June 12, 2022
Preceded byStrobe Talbott
Succeeded byTed Gayer (acting)
Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
In office
September 16, 2014 – October 23, 2015
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byBrett McGurk
Commander of the International Security Assistance Force
In office
July 18, 2011 – February 10, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byDavid Petraeus
Succeeded byJoseph Dunford
Commander of United States Central Command
Acting
In office
June 30, 2010 – August 11, 2010
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byDavid Petraeus
Succeeded byJames Mattis
Personal details
Born (1953-12-15) December 15, 1953 (age 70)
Fort Belvoir, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
Georgetown University (MA)
National Intelligence University (MS)
National Defense University (MS)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service1976–2013
Rank General
CommandsInternational Security Assistance Force
United States Forces Afghanistan
United States Central Command (Deputy Commander)
2nd Battalion, 4th Marines
2nd Battalion, 6th Marines
The Basic School
United States Naval Academy – Commandant of Midshipmen
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4)
Leftwich Leadership Trophy
John R. Allen's voice
Allen on U.S. global leadership in the coalition to counter ISIL
Recorded February 25, 2015

John Rutherford Allen (born December 15, 1953) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general, and former commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A). On September 13, 2014, President Barack Obama appointed Allen as special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).[1] He was succeeded in that role by Brett McGurk on October 23, 2015.[2] He is the co-author of Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence with Darrell M. West (Brookings Institution Press, 2020) and Future War and the Defence of Europe alongside Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben Hodges and Professor Julian Lindley French (Oxford University Press, 2021). Allen was president of the Brookings Institution from October 2017 until his resignation on June 12, 2022.

  1. ^ "Announcement of General John Allen as Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL". State Department. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  2. ^ "Obama names Brett McGurk as envoy to coalition fighting Islamic State". Reuters. October 23, 2015.