Thad W. Allen Recognized for His Contributions to Environmental Protection

NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2011 – Admiral Thad W. Allen, United State Coast Guard (Retired), and senior fellow at RAND Corporation (Arlington, Va.), was honored by ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) for a lifetime of high-impact and distinguished accomplishments in environmental protection, including the outstanding management of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  He received the Society’s Dixy Lee Ray Medal.

The award, established in 1998, recognizes significant achievements and contributions in the broad field of environmental protection. It was presented to Adm. Allen during the 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, held in Denver, Nov. 11 through 17.

Allen joined RAND Corporation in October 2010 after more than 39 years of service with the United States Coast Guard.  At RAND, a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision making through research and analysis, Allen’s focus is on disaster recovery operations and emergency preparedness.

Allen completed his distinguished U.S. Coast Guard career as its 23rd commandant, retiring from that position in June 2010.  In May 2010, President Barack Obama selected Allen to serve as the national incident commander for the unified response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico—a position he held concurrently while finishing his tenure as commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.  Allen was charged with oversight of all response efforts to cease the flow of oil and mitigate the effects of the worst oil disaster in U.S. history.  Working closely with the federal on-scene coordinator, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. departments of Homeland Security, Defense, Interior, Commerce, and Health and Human Services, he sought to bring a global unit of effort to response endeavors.  Allen was also in charge of coordinating with various state and local entities as well as directing the efforts of BP, operator of the Deepwater Horizon oil well platform.

Prior to his assignment as commandant, Allen served as Coast Guard chief of staff.  In 2005, during his tenure in that position, he was designated principal federal official for the U.S. government’s response and recovery operations throughout the Gulf Coast region in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Other Coast Guard assignments included commander, Atlantic Area and Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic—where, in 2001, he led the Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area forces following the September 11 attacks.  He previously served as commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, where he oversaw all operations in the southeastern United States and in the Caribbean.

Allen is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration; and a member of the American Society of Public Administration, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Partnership for Public Service.

His numerous awards and decorations include the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal with gold star, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal with two gold stars and the Legion of Merit; as well as The George Washington University’s Alumni Achievement Award (2006) and Colin Powell Leadership Award (2010).

Allen received his bachelor’s degree at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (New London, Conn.) in 1971.  He earned a master’s degree in public administration at The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1986; and a master’s degree in management at the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, in 1989.  In 2011, Allen received honorary doctorates from George Mason University (Fairfax, Va.) and the National Defense University, Washington, D.C.

About ASME ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.