Lew Allen, Jr. July 1, 1978 - June 30, 1982 A gifted 1946 West Point graduate, Florida-born Lew Allen represented a new breed of futuristic, scientific-minded leaders who emerged after the Second World War. Early in his distinguished career, he flew BB29s and Convair BB36s with the Strategic Air Command=s 7th Bombardment Group. Allen was among the first class of qualified nuclear weaponeers in the Air Force. He earned a doctorate degree in physics in 1954 at the University of Illinois. Afterward, he was assigned as a physicist in the Atomic Energy Commission=s Scientific Laboratory at Los Al
Lew Allen, Jr. July 1, 1978 - June 30, 1982 A gifted 1946 West Point graduate, Florida-born Lew Allen represented a new breed of futuristic, scientific-minded leaders who emerged after the Second World War. Early in his distinguished career, he flew BB29s and Convair BB36s with the Strategic Air Command=s 7th Bombardment Group. Allen was among the first class of qualified nuclear weaponeers in the Air Force. He earned a doctorate degree in physics in 1954 at the University of Illinois. Afterward, he was assigned as a physicist in the Atomic Energy Commission=s Scientific Laboratory at Los Alamos, New Mexico. Allen conducted experiments in several nuclear test series, including at Bikini and in Nevada. With wide-ranging responsibilities and an independence befitting his high level of competence and abilities, he was one of the last military officers assigned to laboratories exclusively as a scientist. From 1957 to 1961, Allen served as a science advisor in the physics division at the Air Force Special Weapons Center. In this demanding role at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, Allen analyzed the military affects of high-altitude nuclear explosions and participated in other weapons testing projects. He served in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force from 1965 to 1973, focusing on special projects, first at Los Angeles, California, before transferring to the Pentagon in 1968 as Deputy Director of Space Systems. He became the director only twelve months later. By 1971, Allen was back in Los Angeles, serving as the director of special projects, with additional duty as deputy commander for satellite programs, Space and Missile Systems Organization. He later served as the Director of the National Security Agency and the chief of central security service at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, and in August 1977, he became the Commander of Air Force Systems Command. In April 1978, he left Systems Command to become the Vice Chief of Staff. Allen was named Air Force Chi
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