Mr. James “Jimmy” Allen is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology Futures in the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, where he oversees research and development across the Department’s emerging technology portfolios, including scaled hypersonics, biomanufacturing, counter-unmanned systems, positioning/navigation/timing, future-generation wireless, munitions, human systems, and nuclear delivery systems technologies. He also oversees S&T programs to foster the producibility of emerging technologies through investments in advanced materials, manufacturing technology, sustainment, and technology transfer.

Mr. Allen brings over 40 years of industry experience to the Department and is one of the nation’s leading subject matter experts in affordable hypersonic subsystems, including thermal management systems, avionics, flight control systems and advanced materials. In his most recent position as the chief technology officer of Applied Technology Solutions in Huntsville, Alabama, he steered multiple programs in the missile, space, and sensor domains, while serving on several small business boards. His background includes managing the thermal protection system design, test, build, and integration of the Army’s Hypersonic Weapon; multistatic radar analysis and design; hypervelocity impact material phenomology and analysis; microfabrication of MEM’s, MOEMS, and microfluidic devices; specialized sensors, including a laser absorption spectrometer for NASA manned space flight use on Orion; and leading various technology development and strategic planning groups.