Society has undergone various paradigm shifts, many of which have been powered by data science. Few understand the power of empirical data better than Keith Allen, PhD. After eight dedicated years of military service, Allen experienced firsthand as a flight test officer how data collection and application can transform lives. He went on to become a prodigious data scientist, leading today’s AI research. He has received such honors for his exceptional career and contributions as being included in the Marquis Who’s Who listing of influential professionals.
Military Service
Allen’s career journey began with a term of service in the United States Army as an infantry officer. During this time, he completed multiple deployments and was moved by the events of 9/11, which informed his later career decisions.
“Being an army officer, especially during 9/11 and all the wars that my generation was involved in, I realized that I have an engineering degree and that I should do something about it,” Allen states. Although he elected to end his military service in 2005, he returned to active duty for another year, completing a total of eight years of service.
After retiring from his military career, Allen applied the skills and experience he had developed to transition into flight testing. From 2005 to 2019, he worked as a senior flight test officer and team lead for the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground.
Transition Into Data Science
Allen’s duties in flight testing exposed him to the power of collecting and implementing empirical data, sparking his interest in statistics and scientific data. When he decided it was time to make another career pivot, he pursued this new passion and attended graduate studies focusing on data science.
In 2015, Allen graduated from the University of Arizona with a master’s degree in engineering management with a focus on modeling, simulation and statistical quality control. He continued to pursue this line of research and further hone his expertise in data science by attending Northcentral University, a private university in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he graduated in 2021 with a Doctor of Philosophy in data science.
Allen has experienced a prodigious career as a data scientist. From 2019 to 2020, he worked as a senior data scientist for Guidehouse. In 2021, he became a senior research scientist at PeopleTec. He moved into the position of senior data scientist in 2022, a role he occupies to the present day.
Work in AI Development
Allen now leads the AI development team at PeopleTec. His duties involve developing AI tools and AI architecture in the cloud. He contributes to education and training and is committed to mentoring and leading the next generation of data scientists, particularly as AI continues to shape the field.
“It’s an exciting time to be in the field of human augmentation,” Allen states. “I think we’re on the verge of some kind of paradigm shift.”
The Principles Guiding Dr. Allen’s Work
Five core principles have guided Allen throughout his career as an engineer and data scientist. These include focusing on continuous improvements over time and responsible innovation. “Aim for the 60–80% solution first; refinements can follow,” Allen advises.
As proposed by the Japanese concept of Kaizen, Allen emphasizes improvement through small, incremental changes. He also believes in the importance of following legal, ethical, and safety standards. “We can innovate without limits, provided we adhere to safety, security, public law and data security,” he asserts.
Commitment to the Next Generation
In the next eight to 10 years, Allen plans to transition his team’s leadership to another professional. He acknowledges the rapid pace of technological advancement and believes the younger generation may excel in managing these changes. He would also like to further spread his knowledge by teaching as an adjunct professor and may start his own educational YouTube channel. Finally, he plans to complete a book he is drafting about the five core principles that have guided him to success.
As Allen continues his work at the forefront of AI development, the knowledge he builds and imparts to the next generation will contribute to greater advancements and innovations in the field of data science.
