After seven and a half years on the Long Beach Water Commission, serving twice as president, John Allen was elected Director of Division 3 of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California on November 4, 2014.

Mr. Allen is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, and received his J.D. from Hastings College of the Law.

After practicing law for nearly 38 years, the last 26 of which were with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Mr. Allen retired as Head Deputy of the Public Benefits Fraud Division of the District Attorney's Office. Before that, among other assignments, he had prosecuted hardcore gang murder cases and was the Assistant District Attorney in charge of Line Operations, where he was responsible for over 600 lawyers.

Mr. Allen served in the US Army Reserves ('65-'67). After being honorably discharged he and his wife served in the Peace Corps in Guatemala ('67-'69). He has served on the Board of Directors of Long Beach Transit, the Long Beach Area Boy Scouts, and the Women Shelter of Long Beach. He is also an active member of the Long Beach Bar Association.