Thad Allen is an executive vice president and a leader in the firm’s Departments of Justice and Homeland Security business. He leads the development of thought leadership and client engagement regarding the future of law enforcement and homeland security. Thad is known for his expertise in bringing together government and non-government entities to address major challenges in a “whole of government” approach designed to achieve a unity of effort. Thad completed his distinguished career in the U.S Coast Guard as its 23rd commandant.
In 2010, President Obama selected Thad to serve as the national incident commander for the unified response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Homeland Security, the Departments of Defense, Interior, Commerce, Health and Human Services, state and local entities, and BP, he worked to bring unity to the response operations.
“Thad Allen is a leader in the firm’s Departments of Justice and Homeland Security business in the civil market.”
Prior to his assignment as commandant, Thad served as Coast Guard chief of staff. In 2005, he was designated principal federal official for the U.S. government’s response and recovery operations in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita throughout the Gulf Coast region.
Other Coast Guard assignments include commander, Atlantic srea, where in 2001 Thad led the area forces following the September 11 attacks. He previously served as commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, where he oversaw all operations in the southeastern United States and in the Caribbean.
Prior to joining our firm, Thad served with the Rand Corporation.
He is a fellow in the National Academy of Public Administration and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Thad also currently serves as a director on the Coast Guard Foundation and Partnership for Public Service. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also appointed Thad to the New York State Respond Commission, tasked with finding ways to ensure that the state is ready to respond to future weather-related disasters.
Thad is a 1971 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He holds a master’s in public administration from The George Washington University, from which he received the Alumni Achievement Award in 2006. He also holds an M.S. in management from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Thad has also been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from George Mason University, the National Defense University, and the National Graduate School.
Profile updated April 2013.
Published Work
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From Hurricane Katrina to Deep-Water Horizon: Managing Catastrophic Events through Unity of Effort, Crisis & Emergency Management Conference 2012, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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"It's a leadership challenge, it's a legal challenge, it's a policy challenge, it's a resource challenge," Zawya.com, February 1st, 2012
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Changing Government Requires Flexible, Learning Leaders (December 2011, AOL Government)
