Nadja Y. West

Nadja Y. West

Lieutenant General Nadja Y. West
Name	Nadja Y. West
Birth name
Birth date	Birth date -1st March 1966
Birth place	Washington, D.C., United States
Death date
Death place
Alma mater	United States Military Academy, George Washington University
Occupation	Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General
Years active
Organization
Known for	First African American woman to serve as the U.S. Army Surgeon General
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Nadja Y. West (born March 20, 1961) is a retired United States Army Lieutenant General who served as the 44th Surgeon General of the United States Army and Commanding General of the United States Army Medical Command. She is notable for being the first African American woman to hold the position of Army Surgeon General and the highest-ranking woman to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Early Life and Education

Nadja Y. West was born in Washington, D.C. and was adopted by a military family. She grew up in a disciplined environment that emphasized the importance of service and education. West attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering in 1982. She later attended the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, where she received her Doctor of Medicine degree.

Military Career

West's military career began upon her graduation from West Point. She completed her internship and residency in Family Medicine at Martin Army Community Hospital at Fort Benning, Georgia. Her early assignments included serving as a flight surgeon with the 1st Armored Division in Germany.

West's career is marked by a series of leadership roles in military medicine. She served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Support, United States Army Medical Command, and as the Commanding General of the Europe Regional Medical Command. In 2015, she was appointed as the 44th Surgeon General of the United States Army, a position she held until her retirement in 2019.

Achievements and Legacy

As the Army Surgeon General, West was responsible for the health and medical readiness of the Army. She oversaw the Army Medical Command, which provides healthcare to soldiers, retirees, and their families. Her tenure was marked by efforts to modernize Army medicine, improve healthcare delivery, and enhance the resilience and readiness of soldiers.

West's leadership and achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Personal Life

Nadja Y. West is married and has two children. She is known for her commitment to mentoring young leaders and her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the military.

Also see

• Surgeon General of the United States Army
• United States Army Medical Command
• United States Military Academy
• George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences