Jerrold Park Allen

Jerrold Park Allen, Major General, United States Air Force (Retired), passed away in San Antonio, TX on December 13, 2023 at the age of 79. Jerry was briefly hospitalized and died peacefully with his children and grandchildren by his side.

Jerry was born on February 29, 1944 in Palm Springs, CA and was the son of Clifford Stockwell Allen and Jean Park Allen. He grew up in Brattleboro, VT where he was the quarterback for the Brattleboro Union High School Colonels before graduating in 1962. Jerry then received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy where he was the recipient of the 1966 George C. Marshall Award for Military Excellence, served as the Cadet Wing Commander, and was the Captain of the ski team. Jerry competed in downhill, ski jump, and cross-country ski races, and received the Team Captains Award from the Air Force Academy Athletics Association. He graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1966 with his B.A. in Engineering Management. He then went on to pilot training at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, TX, and served as a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours throughout his 32 years of active duty in the United States Air Force. He flew 250 combat missions in the OV-10 and the B-52 in Vietnam, and also flew the FB-111, F-111D, C-130, and the B-1 bomber, a plane he was instrumental in bringing into the military aviation arsenal in the 1980s as the Chief of the B-1 division and special assistant to the commander in chief for B-1 matters at Strategic Air Command Headquarters. Additional assignments in the Air Force included the Chairman’s Staff Group, Office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington D.C.; Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, NE; Deputy Director, Joint Strategic Planning Staff, Offutt Air Force Base, NE; Commander of the 319th Bombardment Wing, Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND; Commander of the 96th Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, TX; Commander of the 7th Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, TX; Director, Plans and Policy Directorate, United States European Command, Patch Barracks, Germany; and Vice Commander, 21st Air Force, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ. Additional education throughout his career included a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Golden Gate University, as well as graduating from Squadron Officer School, the U.S. Navy Command and Staff Course at the Naval War College, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI. Jerry was the recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

Following his Air Force career, Jerry served 12 years as Commandant of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. He led the Corps through a significant period of enrollment growth and markedly shaped the Corps’ leadership program, establishing a leadership minor and four leadership courses that receive academic credit for cadets. Additionally, he fostered an environment focused on academic success and emphasized service, leading the Corps to donate more than 9,700 hours of time serving the community in 2009-2010 and garnering a Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Award in 2009. Jerry was active in the leadership of the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States and served as President of the organization in 2006 and 2007.

After his retirement from Virginia Tech in 2011, Jerry and his wife, Joan Grozier Allen, made their home at Blue Skies of Texas West (formerly Air Force Village II) in San Antonio, TX. Throughout his illustrious military career, Jerry concurrently was a devoted father and eventually “Grandpa Jerry”, a role in which he took immense joy and pride. In his retirement, Jerry could be found at his granddaughters’ volleyball tournaments and school plays and programs, and his grandsons’ soccer games and swim meets. When his wife Joan began to experience a decline in her health, Jerry was a devoted husband who tended to her needs with dedication, love, and tenderness.

As a retiree, Jerry was an active community member at Blue Skies of Texas West, in the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, and served as the National Commander of the Daedalians, an organization whose mission is to advocate for air and space power and honor those who flew and fly in defense of our nation. Jerry took great pride in traveling the nation as National Commander, supporting interest in aviation among young people considering a military aviation career and presenting scholarships and awards to deserving young people across the country. Jerry loved to support young people in their pursuit of success and found great joy in witnessing their achievements.

Jerry was admired and loved by so many. He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother Charles “Chuck” Allen; and his wife Joan Grozier Allen. He is survived by his brothers Jeffrey Allen of Burlington, VT and David Allen of Charlotte, VT; his children, Craig Allen (Colleen) of San Antonio, TX and Crystal Skelton (Will) of Madison, MS; granddaughters Reagan, Parker, and Avery Allen; and grandsons William and Christopher Skelton. A memorial service will be held at Joint Base San Antonio Randolph Air Force Base Chapel One, 2 Washington Circle, Randolph AFB, TX, on Friday, December 29 at 1:30 p.m.

A reception will be held following the service, at Mako's on the Creek, 169 Buffalo Pl, Cibolo, TX 78108

Jerry’s final resting place will be at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery where he will be placed next to his wife, Joan. In lieu of flowers, contributions are encouraged to the Major General Jerrold P. Allen Fund for Leadership Excellence at Virginia Tech. Donations can be made at vtcc.vt.edu/give.html and should include the fund name (The VTCC Major General Jerrold P. Allen Fund for Leadership Excellence) and fund number (860521).