Rob Allen is the Director of Community Security for the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Minnesota and the Dakotas, a position in which he works to reduce both physical threats and cyber risks to the community. Drawing from his breadth of experience and depth of knowledge, Rob coordinates and delivers a wide variety of safety and preparedness training to meet the diverse needs across the tri-state JCRC area. Known for collaboration, Rob works with numerous law enforcement agencies, community partners, and faith organizations from many traditions to address bias motivated crimes and secure grant funding to enhance security.
Prior to joining JCRC, Rob had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, with leadership roles that included Chief of Staff and Director of Planning for the two largest sheriff’s offices in Minnesota, and assignments as Chief of Investigations and Chief of Patrol for a major metropolitan police department where he commanded a precinct for five years. Notably, in 2006, Rob served as incident commander when the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed over the Mississippi River, and he later led the department’s planning and tactical execution for the 2008 Republican National Convention.
Rob has a BA in sociology from Beloit College and attended the Master’s Program in Homeland Security at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the United States Naval Postgraduate School. He serves as an adjunct instructor at the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training at Louisiana State University and Southern Police Institute at University of Louisville.