Press Releases

Tuesday, January 4, 2011 – U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, MI-08 and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, announced today that he has named former White House National Security Council official Michael Allen as Staff Director of the committee.

“Michael has extensive experience at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue and will play an important role in fulfilling the mission of the House Intelligence Committee,” Rogers said. “Michael has the background and expertise necessary to provide the men and women of the U.S. intelligence community with the resources that they need to protect us against threats both foreign and domestic.”

Currently, Allen is Director of the National Security Preparedness Group, co-chaired by former 9/11 Commission leaders Congressman Lee Hamilton and Governor Tom Kean. The study group, housed at the Bipartisan Policy Center, is an independent, bipartisan entity that advocates for the continued implementation of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations and reports on other national security issues.

“Michael brings a broad range of experience and expertise, he has proven he can work across the political spectrum and will be a great asset to the House Intelligence Committee,” Former Congressman Lee Hamilton said.

“Chairman Rogers is committed to providing the intelligence community with the tools that it needs to help protect America, while conducting aggressive and timely oversight to ensure the right national security policies are in place,” Allen said. “I look forward to serving him and helping advance this critical agenda.”

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EDITOR’S NOTE:Background on Michael Allen

Michael Allen served in the White House for seven years in a variety of national security policy and legislative roles.  Since leaving the White House, Michael was director for the Bipartisan Policy Center’s successor to the 9/11 Commission, co-chaired by former Congressman Lee Hamilton and former Governor Tom Kean.

Michael Allen joined the Bipartisan Policy Center from the National Security Council (NSC), where he served as Senior Director for Counterproliferation Strategy from June 2007 to January 2009 under National Security Advisor Steve Hadley. Previously, Michael Allen was the Senior Director for Legislative Affairs at the NSC from February 2005 to June 2007. From 2001 to 2004, he worked in the legislative affairs office of the White House’s Homeland Security Council after working in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs at the Department of State. Allen received his L.L.M. with distinction in International Law from the Georgetown University Law Center, his J.D. from the University of Alabama, and his B.A. from Vanderbilt University.