[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 44 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN MEMORY OF DR. LEW ALLEN, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 22, 2010

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Dr. Lew 
Allen, Jr., who passed away on January 4, 2010 at the age of 84.
  From the mid-1950s through the late 1960s, Dr. Allen worked as a 
physicist in the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, as a project officer 
for the Air Force Special Weapons Center, as a special staff officer 
for the Space Technology Office of the Secretary of Defense, and 
Director of the Secretary of the United States Air Force. By the 1970s, 
he was Director of Special Projects and Deputy Commander of Satellite 
Programs for the Space and Missile Systems Organization, chief of staff 
Headquarters Air Force Systems Command, director of the National 
Security Agency, and chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force.
  In 1982, because of Dr. Allen's expertise in the military space 
program, he was recruited to serve as director of the Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory, JPL. During the years he led JPL, the laboratory launched 
Galileo to Jupiter, Magellan to Venus, The Infrared Astronomical 
Satellite Mission--the first-ever space-based observatory to perform a 
survey of the entire sky at infrared wavelengths--and sent the Voyager 
2 spacecraft on its flybys of Uranus and Neptune. A champion of 
technology, Dr. Allen invested funds into research and development 
projects that paved the way for new capabilities in space observations.
  Dr. Allen was the recipient of numerous military awards and 
decorations including the Department of Defense Joint Service 
Commendation Medal, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the 
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the National Intelligence 
Distinguished Service Medal. Additionally, he received the George W. 
Goddard Award from the Society of Photo-Optical Engineering, the 
Goddard Memorial Trophy, and the Rotary National Space Trophy.
  Two awards were named in his honor: the General Lew Allen, Jr. Award 
presented by the U.S. Air Force, and the Lew Allen Award for Excellence 
presented by JPL. The Air Force award recognizes sustained job 
performance, proven leadership, job knowledge and military qualities. 
The JPL award is given in the early years of an individual's 
professional career and recognizes significant accomplishments and 
leadership in scientific research or technological innovation.
  Without Dr. Lew Allen, Jr.'s extraordinary contributions, the field 
of science and technology would not be the same today. I extend my 
sincere condolences to his family and friends.

                          ____________________