Allen was a volunteer firefighter and EMT for much of his life and was a correctional officer for 4 years, and he has experienced firsthand the physical and emotional stress of being a first responder.  A West Virginia native, he served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT with Davis Creek and Culloden, and he was later an EMT with Cabell County EMS and Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority (KCEAA).  He has also worked as a security manager within the federal government, leading and training teams of security officers with a focus on maintaining safety while optimizing customer service.  He is a certified CPR and BLS instructor, and he is also a certified Personal Trainer and is the owner of Code 3 Health & Fitness.