Vela’s Tom Allen Sailing into Retirement
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Author: Arabian Sun
Released 12 December 2007
Tom and Sandy Allen
DUBAI, U.A.E. — Tom Allen retires at the end of December after almost 20 years with Saudi Aramco and its affiliates.
Tom went to work for Saudi Petroleum International Inc. (SPII) in 1988 as Saudi Aramco expanded its crude-oil deliveries to accommodate its interest in the company that predated Motiva.
Tom graduated from the State University of New York’s Maritime College in 1966 with a bachelor of science degree in meteorology and oceanography, a commission as ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve and a U.S. Coast Guard third-mate’s license. After three years at sea, Tom came ashore with Texaco in 1969 in its New York office.
He held various positions at Texaco for nearly 23 years, including stints in its fleet management offices in London, Monte Carlo and Port Arthur, Texas.
Tom was transferred to Saudi Aramco in October 1988 to run SPII’s Crude Operations, assuming the post of manager of operations, which was crucial to the company’s ability to deliver spot-market crude to North America and Europe.
It was while he was in that post that Saudi crude established an unshakable market share.
In 1991, much of the SPII responsibilities were transferred to Saudi Petroleum Overseas Ltd. (SPOL) in London, but Tom followed those responsibilities as manager of what became SPOL Transportation Services Department. Then, in 1995, Tom transferred to Dhahran to run the Vela International Marine Ltd. Planning and Technical Services Department. In 2001, he transferred to Vela’s Dubai offices as manager of the Marine Operations Department.
In 2005, Tom became manager of Vela’s Commercial and Support Department. He now is acting manager of the new Transportation Services Department in Dubai.
Tom demonstrated his leadership abilities on the athletic field before achieving success in the marine industry. He earned high school varsity letters in four sports. In 1982, he was elected to State University’s Hall of Fame for his outstanding career and his academy athletic contributions. At the Maritime College, Tom captained the cross-country, rowing and wrestling teams, and was the metropolitan league’s 177-pound wrestling championship in 1966. He was the Maritime College Cadet Regimental commander in 1965-66.
Since then, he has run several marathons. He placed in the top 5 percent in the New York City Marathon in 1979. Tom married Sandy in 1968.
They have a daughter, Melissa, who is a geriatric nurse practitioner in California.
Tom and Sandy enjoy traveling. They have been to more than 50 countries together over the years. Their travels include Dhahran Outing Group treks to Mount Everest Base Camp in 1996, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and New Zealand’s famous 40-mile Milford Sound Track.
Tom enjoys reading and sports. In retirement, he hopes to work in a mentoring or teaching program for children, such as Big Brothers of America or in a school environment.
Tom and Sandy plan to retire to Scottsdale, Arizona.