Brigadier General Allen J. Henderson is the chief of staff, North Dakota Air National Guard.  He graduated from Fargo Central High School in May 1955.  He graduated from North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering.  He was a graduate assistant in the mechanical engineering department from 1961-1962.  He received his Master of Science degree in engineering valuation from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa in 1965 and his doctor of philosophy degree in industrial engineering in 1968.  His military education includes the National Security Management Course in 1984.

General Henderson began his military career in 1954 as an enlisted member of the North Dakota ANG, and in January 1957 he was commissioned a second lieutenant.  General Henderson was promoted to and federally recognized as a brigadier general on March 14, 1996.  He is a command pilot with over 3,800 hours in the C-130A, T-33, F-4, F-101B/F and the F-102 aircraft. 

In his civilian life he has served as chairman and professor, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, North Dakota State University, since 1978.  General Henderson is also a consulting engineer.  He has been a registered professional engineer in the state of North Dakota since 1975.  From 1975 to 1978, he was assistant to the president at North Dakota State University, and acted as a coordinator and liaison to all academic areas.  From 1969 to 1975, he was an assistant and associate professor of industrial engineering.