Advanced Strategist Program

Brig. Gen. John Allen is the Air Force director of civil engineers, deputy chief of staff for Logistics, Engineering & Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He is responsible for providing policy and oversight for the planning, development, construction, maintenance, utilities and environmental quality of 183 Air Force bases worldwide valued at more than $297 billion. This responsibility includes housing, fire emergency services, explosive ordnance disposal and emergency management services. He also influences resourcing for installation support functions with an annual budget of $11 billion and is the focal point for organizing, training and equipping the 51,000-person engineering force. Brig. Gen. Allen's education includes a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech, a Master of Science in engineering management from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

Born in Baltimore, Md., Capt. Mary Elizabeth Neill has been part of the Dental Corps for more than three decades. Captain Neill received her B.S. from University of Maryland Baltimore County, her Doctor of Dental Surgery from University of Maryland College of Dental Surgery, her M.S. from University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio and her M.S. National Security and Strategic Studies 2016 from the U. S. Naval War College. Neill has held many positions (deputy chief of staff for Navy Medicine National Capital Area, executive officer at Naval Hospital Oak Harbor, commanding officer at Naval Health Clinic Quantico, Navy Medicine East chief of staff, commanding officer of NATO Role III Multinational Medical Unit Kandahar, Afghanistan, and deputy director for Medical Resources, Plans, Policy at the Pentagon) and has deployed in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Decatur, Alabama native Admiral Charles Richard graduated from the University of Alabama and earned master's degrees from the Catholic University of America and the U.S. Naval War College. His operational assignments include multiple submarine commands. Staff assignments include executive assistant and naval aide to the Under Secretary of the Navy; chief of staff, Submarine Force Atlantic; director of resources on the staff of the Under Secretary of Defense; squadron engineer on the staff of SUBRON-8 and duty on the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations staff. He has served as a member of Chief of Naval Operations' Strategic Studies Group XXVIII, as well as being Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Director of Undersea Warfare (OPNAV N97), Deputy Commander of Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike, and command of Submarine Group 10. His most recent assignment was Commander, Submarine Forces in Norfolk, Virginia. As Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, he is responsible for one of 11 Unified Commands under the Department of Defense.