Robert L. Bennett, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, has announced the appointment of Arthur O. Allen, a general engineer in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as Assistant Commissioner for Engineering. Allen succeeds Fred M. Haverland, who retired January 11.
Allen was born at Martin, S. D and is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He was graduated from. Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kan. in 1927 and joined the Bureau as an assistant foreman at Muskogee, Okla., a position he held until 1935 when he was named an associate architectural engineer in the Bureau's central office in Washington.
Between that time and the present Allen has served in the following positions: assistant director of construction, senior administrative analyst, construction management engineer, general engineer and supervisory general engineer. During this time he received four award for outstanding performance. He has served on the Department of the Interior's Board of Contract Appeals.
Allen earned a Bachelor of Laws Degree at Southeastern University, Washington, D.C., and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar. Bennett noted that Allen has had the responsibility for the development and administration of the Bureau's construction contracting policies and procedures and has "demonstrated proven administrative ability in the field of engineering."
Allen will head the Bureau's Division of Engineering, which has responsibility for approving and supervising design, contracting, construction and maintenance of Bureau buildings and road.
