LTG Teddy G. Allen (Retired) has commanded Army aviation units from platoon through division. In 1962, as a captain, Allen recognized the vast potential of armed helicopters in support of ground troops and worked tirelessly to expand their employment in all operations.

He served 3 combat tours in Vietnam flying more than 1000 hours earning the Silver Star and 4 awards of the Distinguished Flying Crosse.

In 1974 Allen pioneered the use of night vision goggles in aircraft, and in 1980 organized and trained an aviation task force as part of Operation Honey Badger, an operation designed to free American hostages held by the Iranians. Hostages were released prior to commencing the operation, but the task force later formed the nucleus of the first aviation special operations organization. In 1986, as chief of the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group in the Philippines, Allen evacuated President Ferdinand Marcos and his family flawlessly and without casualties.

As commander of the 101st Airborne Division from 1987 to 1989 Allen supervised the complex and arduous fielding of the AH-64A Apache. While director of the Defense Security Assistance Agency he managed programs that assisted more than 124 countries to modernize and professionalize their armed forces.