Air Force Photographer’s Service Comes Full Circle at Bush Presidential Library

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Chris Allen. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Chris Allen’s life seems to be shaped by one powerful force: service. From the hallowed halls of the White House to the tranquil surroundings of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Chris’s dedication to preserving history and honoring President Bush’s legacy has come full circle. And it’s this sense of duty, a thread woven throughout his career, that now drives him to volunteer over 1,100 hours a year at the Bush Library, where he has found a profound way to reconnect with his past, offering a unique perspective on the Bush administration he helped document during his time as a U.S. Air Force photographer at the White House.

Chris’ journey began in the mid-1980s, when he joined the U.S. Air Force and was eventually selected to be an aerial photographer for the Thunderbirds jet demonstration team. His work took him across the country and the world, capturing breathtaking images of the team’s daring air shows and flyovers. But even with such an exciting role, Chris knew that his next step would be even more significant.

“At the end of my three years with [the Thunderbirds], I looked for another exciting way to serve my country as an Air Force photographer,” Chris said. “And I really wanted to serve President Bush as my commander in chief.”

He applied for, and received, an assignment with the White House Communications Agency, tasked with providing communication, advance and photo support to the President. He primarily worked for the photo office, creating contact sheets for each roll of film taken by the White House photographers. A contact sheet is a print that displays thumbnail-sized images from a roll of film, allowing the photo office to quickly review, select and print the shot they need.

“Words really can’t describe the thrill of supporting my commander in chief every day, but it was even more special to support George Bush, an incredible president and a person I truly look up to,” Chris said. “I saw firsthand how he treated everyone with the utmost respect and empathy. Whether you were a king or queen or an Air Force photographer, he genuinely relished meeting you.”

After serving at the White House during the last two full years of the Bush administration (1991-1992), Chris left the Air Force, earned his undergraduate degree, and transitioned into the civilian workforce, dedicating his career to the nonprofit sector. Upon retiring, he immediately knew he wanted to continue his service by volunteering at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum at Texas A&M University so in 2023, he signed up to be a docent, leading guided tours for visitors to explore the library and museum.

“One day, just by chance, I found out that they were scanning the contact books and that there was an opening for me to help do that, so I jumped at that opportunity,” Chris said.

By volunteering five days a week, Chris has completed the monumental task of digitizing nearly 170 notebooks from the Bush Quayle White House Photo Office, including more than 16,000 contact sheets he helped produce during his White House assignment.

“Every day that I scan, I’m reminded of a particular visit or something on his agenda that day that I remember deeply from 30 plus years ago. To be able to go back and look at it again and see his administration on a daily basis the second time around is really a phenomenal experience,” Chris said.

“Digitizing all these photos and allowing them to be on our website is giving researchers and scholars and the general public access to all these photographs that weren’t available to them before,” said Monica Lerma, volunteer coordinator at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. “Chris’ dedication to this project and his volunteerism is a great example of what President Bush wanted and envisioned for being a point of light.”

With every photo he digitizes and every tour he leads, Chris hopes his volunteer work helps preserve President Bush’s legacy and inspire others to learn from his example.

“President Bush championed volunteerism and encouraged Americans to be points of light in their communities,” Chris said. “The more people who embrace that spirit, the better off we’ll all be.”

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Chris? Find local volunteer opportunities.