Ryan P. Allen
Colonel Ryan P. Allen was born and raised in Nebraska, graduating from the University of Nebraska in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, and earning his commission through the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) program in July 1999. Colonel Allen completed The Basic School (TBS) in June 2000 and was the class honor graduate of the Air Defense Control Officer Course at Marine Corps Communications and Electronics School in November 2000, earning the Air Defense Control Officer Marine Occupational Specialty (MOS) upon graduation. He is currently serving as the Professor of Naval Science and Commanding Officer of the NROTC Unit at the University of Arizona.
Colonel Allen reported in December 2000 to Marine Air Control Squadron 4 (MACS-4) at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma, in Okinawa, Japan, where he served as a Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC) Crew Officer in Charge (OIC). Colonel Allen deployed with his squadron to Guam in the Fall of 2001 in the wake of 9/11 in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE, and then in April 2002 to Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Colonel Allen was transferred to MCAS Miramar, California in June 2003 where he briefly served as an Assistant Operations Officer before transferring to Camp Pendleton, California to serve with Marine Air Support Squadron 3 (MASS-3). In January 2004 he returned to MCAS Miramar to serve as the Detachment Commander of the MACS-1 Early Warning and Control Detachment. He deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq in February 2006 to serve as the MACS-1 (Fwd) Operations Officer in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Following his return from Iraq, he transferred to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia to attend the Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS), graduating in June 2007 and transferring to the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment to serve as the regiment’s Assistant Operations Officer.
In July 2009 Colonel Allen was transferred to Hill Air Force Base, Utah to serve as the Marine Exchange Officer with the United States Air Force 729th Air Control Squadron. He deployed with the squadron to Balad Air Base, Iraq in January 2010 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and then to Forward Support Base Herat, Afghanistan in April 2011 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Colonel Allen was selected to attend Marine Corps Command and Staff College, reporting in the summer of 2011 and graduating with honors in June 2012.
In July 2012 Colonel Allen returned to Okinawa, Japan, serving as the Executive Officer of Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 18 (MTACS-18) and Assistant Operations Officer and Operations Officer of Marine Air Control Gorup 18 (MACG-18). In July 2015 Colonel Allen reported to Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1) aboard MCAS Yuma, Arizona to serve as the Command, Control, and Communications Department Head.
In June 2017 Colonel Allen assumed command of MASS-1 aboard MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina. Following squadron command, he was selected to attend the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he graduated with distinction in June 2020. Colonel Allen then transferred to United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) where he served as the Global Integrated Operations Division Chief in the Operations Directorate (J3). In June 2023 Colonel Allen transferred to Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois and assumed command of MACG-48, serving as the Group Commanding Officer until his selection to command the Naval ROTC Unit at the University of Arizona, beginning in August 2025.