Major James Allison was born in Gaffney, South Carolina. Shortly after graduating from High School, he committed his life to Jesus Christ and answered a definite call to ministry in The Salvation Army. Major Allison entered The Salvation Army's College for Officers Training in Atlanta, Georgia in 1975. While attending the College he met his wife, Lois, and they were commissioned as Salvation Army officers in June 1977. They served in Charleston, South Carolina and Winston Salem, North Carolina as Associate Corps Officers before being transferred to Virginia. During their twelve years in Virginia they served as Corps Officers in Pulaski, Waynesboro and Charlottesville.

In June 1990 the Allison's were appointed to the Divisional Headquarters staff in Tampa, Florida where Major Allison served as Finance Officer. In June 1992 Major Allison was appointed as the Divisional Finance Secretary for the Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi Division, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi. His duties included responsibility for all Salvation Army financial operations in these three states. In June 1997 Major Allison was appointed to the North and South Carolina Divisional Headquarters as Divisional Finance Secretary and was appointed as Divisional Secretary in June 2003 with responsibility for Human Resources, employee benefits, Insurance, Disaster Services, Thrift Store operations, property matters and Men's Ministry activities throughout the Carolinas Division.

Major Allison was appointed Divisional Secretary for the National Capital and Virginia Division in June 2005 and was appointed as General Secretary in June 2006 where he presently serves. In addition to his considerable and varied duties as the second-in-command for the NCV Division, he also serves as the Executive Officer for the National Capital Band.

Major Allison loves Jesus, loves people, loves to preach the Gospel, which he does every opportunity he gets, and loves The Salvation Army and its Mission to meet mankind at the point of need lending a “hand up” rather than a “hand out”.