Biography

Captain Allen entered URI as a business major, pledging Phi Mu delta fraternity and joining the track team. He graduated from URI in 1968.

As a Distinguished Military Graduate, he attended the Adjutant Generals Corps Basic Officers Course. As a new 2nd Lieutenant and top graduate of his AG Basic Officers class, the school commandant selected CPT Allen as Personnel Department Deputy, a Lieutenant Colonel’s billet.

Upon promotion to 1st Lieutenant, Captain Allen volunteered for service in Vietnam and was assigned to the 75th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division in Quang Tri where he became Chief, Admin Services Division. Having inherited a team of enlisted soldiers, reassigned from combat units, Captain Allen and his NCO’s molded them into an effective administrative group. Additional assignments included top-secret control officer with Captain Allen controlling access and custody of brigade classified operations communications.

One of Bob’s most memorable missions involved a “fragging’ incident. Rather than using an MP officer, Captain Allen was tasked to take custody of the accused prisoner and transport him by vehicle to the base Provost Marshall in Da Nang. Without incident, Captain Allen, joined by one of his soldiers, made the 190-mile roundtrip journey in a half ton truck, occasionally following US and ARVN convoys and armored columns, particularly when negotiating the infamous Hai Van pass. In his last month, his area received intense 122mm rocket fire. While only one of Captain Allen’s soldiers was slightly injured, there were several other casualties, including one KIA. Having been awarded the Bronze Star and Army Commendation medals for his meritorious service he was released from active duty in July 1970 and later completed his reserve service obligation, obtaining the rank of Captain.

Bob, having received a URI education, was always on the lookout to recruit URI graduates to work at both Mobil Oil Corporation and Rockwell International. Bob was a successful senior leader in both companies. He has also been a financial supporter of URI over the years.

During the period of 1971 to 1979, Bob was engaged with career initiatives with James Monroe high school in New York city. He and his wife Nancy were also members of the New Milford Connecticut Jaycees, holding several offices and receiving several awards of recognition for their community efforts. He and his family hosted international travelers in New York city through the Jaycee Hometown program. Bob and Nancy continued their involvement with the Jaycees when living in Troy, Michigan.

When relocating to Florida with Bendix, Bob joined with CEO’s and HR leaders from local electronics companies, to form the “Clean 18”. This group provided support to area charter schools and junior colleges, such as Florida Atlantic University to help in STEM type curriculum development. Bob’s HR department established internship and employment programs for these high school and junior college students.

Bob joined the Broward County Urban League Board where he established programs to bring electronics training to disadvantaged members of the community. Upon graduation, these students were guaranteed jobs with Bendix. Upon employment, Bob’s team provided additional training.

Following relocation to Kansas, Bob supported programs at the Bendix/King Olathe Kansas plant to train supervisors and leaders sign-language skills which allowed the firm to provide employee opportunities to hearing impaired students from Kansas School for the Deaf.

In his Group HR Director role, Bob continued his support of the Urban League when serving as Board Vice President of the Bergan County New Jersey Urban League. After joining CH2M Hill, Inc. as Sr VP Human Resources, Bob joined the Urban League Board of Metropolitan Denver, eventually becoming Chairman. Bob also served on the boards of the Denver Black Chamber of Commerce and the Denver Rotary Foundation.

Bob also took an interest in education. As a major fund raiser and member of Denver’s Metropolitan State College Foundation Board, Bob and other board members were instrumental in its multi-year transformation into university status for working students. Bob’s support continued after his retirement.

He was also a major advocate and fund raiser for the National Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) and served on its board as president until his retirement. During its 50-year history, JETS was a national organization and one of the early champions of STEM education, promoting engineering and technology careers for America’s youth. JETS engaged students through various engineering education programs that were designed to encourage secondary school students to pursue engineering.

Bob’s military service, beginning with his ROTC experiences at URI, had a profound impact in building a foundation for collaborating with people, leading by example and recognizing the merit of service before self. The goal of leaving each assignment better than when one started and more capable of taking it to the next level was how Bob was treated in his military assignments. Bob’s philosophy has always been “the best measure of your accomplishments is what you leave behind.”

Bob’s military service, his commitment to an outward focused life, rich with examples of selfless service make him extraordinarily qualified to enter the Hall of Fame. His example is truly one we want URI students and cadets to seek to emulate.