Cmdr. Allen retires with 29 years of service in the U.S. Navy

  • Published
  • By Raquel March
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  Family, friends and coworkers recently gathered at a retirement ceremony for Cmdr. Brian Allen, with the U.S. Navy and the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) Test Support Division (TSD) director of operations, to wish him well in his future endeavors.

The ceremony was attended by his wife Sherri, son Brennan, daughter Kaisey, father Michael, mother Kathy, brother Mike and sister Lori Rausch.

The Ohio native shares his thoughts about the AEDC area and provides a glimpse of his journey to AEDC and beyond.

High Mach: What were your thoughts about the area when you arrived here?

Cmdr. Brian Allen: I am not from the area or even Tennessee. I am originally from Ohio. My duty station prior to coming to AEDC was as the Executive Officer of the Vanderbilt NROTC Unit so I was already settled in the Nashville area before reporting to AEDC. I did not know a lot about AEDC when I showed up, but [I] did have some idea of where it was and what type of work went on there. I am very impressed by the surrounding area of AEDC and especially the people I got to know as I worked here for the last 4 years.

HM: When did you report to work at AEDC and what did your mission involve?

Allen: I reported to AEDC on June 1, 2010 and was made the deputy of the Test Division under Col. Jim Jolliffe and did that for two years. After that, I moved over to the Test Support Division and basically filled the role of Director of Operations. This role mainly involved advocating for the Test Support Division's scheduling needs.

HM: How will you remember the relationships you have developed here - business, personal, community?

Allen: Very fondly! I have met so many outstanding people here both on the government and contractor side of the house. The leadership on the government side and the ATA leadership has been great and I have really made some dear friends in TSD whom I plan to keep in touch with as I go about the next stage of my life. People like Alan Fleenor, Jan Hollowell, Clark Brandon and Amanda Curbow are names that come to mind right away. But there are many more quality people I could mention; I just don't have enough room.

HM: What are your retirement plans?

Allen: I wish I could say fishing and watching sports but I will be looking for another challenge out there somewhere and who knows, if the "Lord is willing and the creek don't rise" I may be back at AEDC in a civilian role.