Thad Allen

Thad excelled during his 31-year career in the US Air Force and Joint Special Operations Community leading small teams and commanding large organizations both in the US, Overseas, in Combat, and in support of Humanitarian Relief Operations. In addition to his B.S. in Political Science from the US Air Force Academy, he earned a M.S. in Special Operations Low Intensity
Conflict from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. As a young officer, he developed front line leadership and interpersonal skills as a Team Leader of Combat Controllers (CCT) and Pararescuemen (PJs).
Thad has six operational combat deployments while in Special Tactics units as an Operations Officer, Squadron Commander, and Group Commander deploying forces in support of partner nation training and combat operations across Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Africa, and throughout Europe.
While on staff at two Special Operations Headquarters with worldwide responsibilities, he amassed experience across operations, program management, personnel management, planning, programming, budgeting, acquisitions, and human performance. He led the Air Force Special Operations Command Operations Division encompassing small Unmanned Arial Systems, weather, airspace, airfield and range operations, Personnel Recovery/Combat Search and Rescue, Fire Support, Close Air Support, and Command Readiness for the 19,500-person organization. Thad also completed two tours at US Special Operations Command as the Chief of Fire Support/Close Air Support and had the honor of being the Director of the Preservation of the Force and Family responsible for the physical, mental, cognitive, social, and spiritual well-being of 73,000 SOF members and their families. Finally, he ended his military career where it started, at the US Air Force Academy as the Vice Director of Athletics responsible for the physical training and education mission and 27 Intercollegiate Sports. Thad lives in Tampa, FL with his wife, Stephanie and is the proud father of three children.