UB Volunteer, Donor Inducted into Astronaut Hall of Fame

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Spacewalker Joseph P. Allen, IV, a friend, advisor and donor to the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame on April 30. Allen, who sits on numerous professional and civic boards, is a member of, and once chaired, the SEAS Dean's Advisory Council.

One of three Space Shuttle veterans inducted this year during ceremonies at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Allen traveled into space twice, in 1982 and again in 1984. During his rookie flight, the shuttle deployed two satellites. On his second mission, Allen -- one of the first astronaut repairmen -- helped salvage two malfunctioning satellites.

Allen was a physicist who joined NASA in 1967. He left in 1985 to become CEO of Space Industries Inc., which in turn became Calspan SRL Corp. He was president and CEO when it merged with Veda International, Inc., in 1997 and became Veridian Corp. He went on to serve as chairman of Veridian until 2003. Currently he is the principal at Argotyche, Inc. and lives in Washington, D.C.

A gift from Allen was instrumental in the establishment of the Veridian Fellowship Fund in SEAS. He also serves on the board of directors for the Calspan-University at Buffalo Research Center (CUBRC), a partnership focused on bringing together scientists and engineers from academia and industry for opportunities in research and economic growth.

Allen has received many honors and awards, including an honorary State University of New York doctor of science degree awarded in 2003 at the commencement ceremony of the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. In 2002, he was the recipient of the UB Alumni Association's Walter P. Cooke Award, which recognizes non-alumni for their notable and meritorious contributions to the university and its family, such as contributions influencing the growth and improvement of the university and stimulating others to give their active interest and material support to UB.