Bill Allen (born November 3, 1965) is an American politician and retired United States Navy officer serving as a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 17th district since 2023. The district covers part of Clay County, including the Northland section of Kansas City, Pleasant Valley, Claycomo, Randolph, and Birmingham. Allen defeated incumbent Democrat Mark Ellebracht in 2022.
Early life and career Allen grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, in the Turner School District, in a single-parent household below the poverty line. At 16 he was sent to a children's home in Arkansas.
Allen enlisted in the United States Navy and later earned a commission through Officer Candidate School, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander after nearly 26 years of active duty. He subsequently worked for the U.S. Department of Labor's Job Corps program, where he led the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at the Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center and served as Center Director at campuses in Missouri and North Dakota.
Allen then worked in higher education administration, serving as professor, dean, provost, and vice chancellor. He worked in administration at the University of Arkansas Grantham, an online institution, from 2020 to 2024.
Committee Assignments (2025-26) Source: Vice-Chairman - Pensions Vice-Chairman - Special Committee on Tourism Higher Education and Workforce Development Insurance Professional Registration and Licensing Special Committee on Urban Issues
Committee Assignments (2023-24) Source: Vice-Chair - Special Committee on Homeland Security Crime Prevention and Public Safety Economic Development Higher Education Special Committee on Property Tax Reform Special Interim Committee on Illegal Immigrant Crimes
Election results
References