Lieutenant Colonel Shea S. Allen enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1996 and was deployed to Ko-sovo in support of Operation Noble Anvil and Japan in support of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP). In the summer of 2000, he transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve to pursue an under-graduate degree. He successfully completed Officer Candidate School (OCS) in June of 2003 earning the title of OCS Honor Graduate.

Lieutenant Colonel Allen graduated from the University of Colorado with a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Sciences in December 2003, and he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in January 2004. He completed TBS (Officer Basic School) in 2004 on the Commandant’s List and was subsequently assigned to NAS Pensacola for Naval Flight Training. 1st Lt Allen was winged as a Naval Aviator in the summer of 2006.

In July 2006, 1st Lt Allen received orders to Camp Pendleton where he served with HMM-164 “Knight Riders”, 268 “Red Dragons” and 364 “Purple Foxes.” He was promoted to Captain in July 2008. Between 2007 and 2010, Capt Allen conducted multiple operational deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served as a Schedule Writer, Training Officer, S-5 Officer and Airframes Officer in Charge and earned qualifications as Division Leader, Terrain Flying at Low-Altitude Instructor and Functional Test Pilot.

In October 2010, Captain Allen attended Tactical Air Control Party School (TACP) and was designated a Forward Air Controller/Air Officer (MOS 7502). Captain Allen checked in to 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Infantry Regiment in January 2011 as the Battalion Air Officer. Additionally, Captain Allen served as the Battalion Executive Officer from May to November 2011. Captain Allen successfully completed Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS) in the fall of 2012.

In November 2012, Maj Allen joined III MEF G3 Fires in Okinawa as the Air/Current Fires Officer and later served as a Targeting Officer for multiple exercises throughout the Pacific Theatre. In March 2015, Maj Allen was assigned to 6th ANGLICO as the 3d Brigade Platoon Commander at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington. While assigned to 3d Brigade Platoon, he attended the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 2016, Maj Allen graduated from Mon-tana State University with a Masters of Science in Land Resources Management.

In July 2017, Maj Allen was assigned as the Operations Officer for 6th ANGLICO in Concord, California. Maj Allen graduated from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in November 2018. He reported to U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs as a Joint Targeting and Fires Officer in July 2019, and he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in October 2020.

In January 2021, LtCol Allen assumed command of 3D Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company in Bell, California.

LtCol Allen’s personal decorations include Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (Strike/Flight) with Numeral 6, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of second award).