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Command Biography

MWCS-28 Executive Officer
Major Seth C. Allen

Major Seth Allen graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Music - Cello Performance in 2002, and a Master’s Degree in Music - Music Composition in 2006. After years of touring as a professional musician, Major Allen enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2007. Assigned to Headquarters Battalion 1st Marine Division as Fiscal Chief, Corporal Allen deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010, including service in the Marjah District Governor’s Center in support of OPERATION MOSHTARAK. Quickly promoted to Sergeant, Allen was selected to attend Officer Candidates School via the Enlisted Commissioning Program.

Commissioned as a Marine Officer in December 2011, Second Lieutenant Allen graduated from The Basic School and the Basic Communications Officer Course, and reported to Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in 2013. He deployed to Isa Air Base in the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2014 with Marine Aircraft Group 50, enabling kinetic strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham. He further deployed to Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, as the Officer in Charge of the Heavy Communications Package, establishing initial “warm start” communications capability for the inaugural deployment of the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response- Central Command. Redeploying to Miramar and graduating the Legal Officers Course, First Lieutenant Allen served as the Adjutant and Legal Officer for 13 months at MWCS-38, earning a perfect 5-0 record arguing for the command at hearings against Judge Advocates General.

In June 2016 First Lieutenant Allen reported to 9th Communication Battalion aboard Camp Pendleton, CA, where he served as the Assistant Operations Officer/S-3A. Promoted to Captain of Marines in September 2016, Allen was hand-selected to serve as the Future Operations Officer at I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (MHG), and then as Assistant Operations Officer/S-3A for I MHG. There, he led operational planning and direction of five different battalions, and successfully executed multiple MEF exercises. He shaped Operational Plans, Deploy the MEF, Crisis Response, and the transition from I MHG to the I MEF Information Group (I MIG).

In 2017, Captain Allen was hand-selected to deploy as a Joint Individual Augment to Baghdad, Iraq with Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve as the Iraqi Security Forces Development Officer in CJ-7, Partner Force Development. Captain Allen facilitated robust training programs and the divestment of over $1.3B in weapons and materiel to Iraqi Security Forces and Vetted Syrian Opposition forces in the fight against ISIS. Captain Allen worked with multiple senior US, Iraqi, and Coalition military and diplomatic leaders at the US Embassy and other locations throughout Iraq. Additionally, he spent several weeks in Kurdistan coordinating with the Ministry of Peshmerga and travelled to several Combat Outposts along the Kurdish Defensive Line, providing direct support to local Peshmerga fighters, which ensured their continued operations against ISIS at a crucial time.

Allen redeployed and returned to 9th Communication Battalion in 2018 where he was hand-selected for command of Headquarters Company. Captain Allen’s positive and engaged leadership of over 150 Marines increased unit cohesion and earned the highest command climate of any Headquarters Company in I MIG.

After completing a year-long Company Command tour, in 2019 Captain Allen transferred to Headquarters, United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) J6 aboard MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL. He served for one year in Operations Division, Levant Branch, supervising all communications support to CJTF-OIR and other operations throughout Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan. In June 2020, Captain Allen was hand-selected to become Executive Officer, USCENTCOM J6, assisting the CENTCOM J6 in leading a directorate of over 700 people operating the command and control architecture throughout the entire Middle East. Frocked to Major in June 2021, he then deployed to Saudi Arabia as the Deputy J6 of CENTCOM Forward-KSA, coordinating communications and operational interoperability with Saudi partners. Deploying from Riyadh to Prince Sultan Air Base, he also directed and provided vital communications capability as part of the Joint Interagency Task Force for Operation Allies Refuge, facilitating the evacuation and processing of over 1,000 people from Kabul, Afghanistan in the largest Non-combatant Evacuation Operation in history. Redeploying to Tampa, Major Allen then served as CCJ6 Exercises and Engagements Chief, ensuring communications support to multiple bilateral and multilateral exercises in theater, and coordinating and facilitating Key Leader Engagements for the CENTCOM J6. Major Allen was then hand-selected as Executive Officer to the CENTCOM Chief of Staff, serving as a vital integrator of plans and operations of a multi-star, combined and joint warfighting Geographic Combatant Command.

Major Allen is currently a resident student at Command and Staff College aboard Marine Corps University in Quantico, VA. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, multiple Joint Service Commendation Medals and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing