Allan grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and received his B.S. Degree in Forest Management from the University of Massachusetts.  After graduating from college he worked for the U.S. Forest Service in various forestry positions and was also on active duty and in the reserves with the U. S. Army with the rank of Captain. His forestry work brought him to the West Coast, working in the Willamette National Forest out of Eugene, then on to the Sierra National Forest in Fresno, California and the Forestry Science Laboratory in Corvallis.

In 1972, Allan was a part-time instructor in Forest Management (Silviculture) at Mt. Hood Community College while attending Oregon State University graduate school.  He completed his Masters Degree in 1973 in Forest Management–Genetics. He then joined the O.S.U. Extension Service, a part of the O.S.U. College of Forestry as an Associate Professor. Allan was the Extension Forester for the Jackson County Extension Office for twenty-three years until his retirement.

His involvement in community activities keeps him engaged in local issues and is presently on the Jackson County Natural Resources Advisory Committee as a member. He is the forester for the Southern Oregon Resource Conservation and Development Council working on the Sardine Creek Neighborhood Fuels Reduction Project.

Allan believes the sustainability of our renewable natural resources (e.g. trees, wildlife), the production of agricultural crops (both animal and plants), and the health of their diverse environments, ultimately depend on our stewardship of soil and water. Because of his background and personal enjoyment of working in forest management and forest management education, Allan visualized an opportunity to help Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District foster promotion and implementation of stewardship (wise use) practices in Southwest Oregon. He believes JSWCD has a clear mandate to do that for future generations of Oregonians.