 He was named Air National Guard Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains in 1999.As a civilian, Allen was a reporter for The Intelligencer in Wheeling, West Virginia and stringer for the Associated Press before becoming Associate Editor of Forward Movement, an official agency of The Episcopal Church, and a priest associate at Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati, Ohio.Awards he received during his military career include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Air Force Training Ribbon.