Allen, Lew

1925 - Allen was born in Miami, Florida on December 30, 1925.

1942 - Attended and graduated from high school in Gainesville, Texas.

1943-1946 - Studied at the United States Military Academy and graduated with a bachelor's degree. After graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant.

1947 - He was assigned to Strategic Air Command's 7th Bombardment Group at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas and  attended the Air Tactical Course at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. He returned to Carswell Air Force Base as an instructor and assistant special weapons officer for the 7th Bombardment Wing.

1950 - Took his graduate training in nuclear physics at the University of Illinois.

1952 - Earned his master of science degree.

1954 - Earned his doctorate degree in physics and was assigned to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission's Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in New Mexico as a physicist in the Test Division.

1957-1961 - He was assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base as science adviser to the Physics Division of the Air Force Special Weapons Center. He was transferred to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Space Technology Office in the Directorate of Research and Engineering, Washington, D.C..

1965-1973 - He was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Became deputy director of space systems at the Pentagon in June 1968. Returned to Los Angeles as assistant to the director of special projects and later became director of special projects, with additional duty as deputy commander for satellite programs, Space and Missile Systems Organization. In March 1973, he was appointed as deputy to the Director of Central Intelligence for the Intelligence Community in Washington, D.C.

1977 - Appointed commander of Air Force Systems Command in August 1977.

1978 - Became Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.

1982 - After retiting from service, he became the Director of Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

1989 - Elected as a member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.