Allen West (politician)
| Allen West | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 22nd district |
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In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Ron Klein |
| Succeeded by | Lois Frankel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Allen Bernard West February 7, 1961 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Angela Graham |
| Alma mater |
University of Tennessee, Knoxville (BA) Kansas State University, Manhattan (MA) United States Army Command and General Staff College (MMAS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1982–2004 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant colonel
|
| Commands |
20th Field Artillery 4th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars |
Persian Gulf War Iraq War |
| Awards |
Bronze Star Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal Army Achievement Medal |
Allen Bernard West (born February 7, 1961) is an American political commentator, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, West represented Florida's 22nd congressional district in the House from 2011 to 2013.
West was born in Georgia and joined the United States Army in 1983. He was deployed to Kuwait in 1991 and Iraq in 2003. In 2003, West was charged in an incident that involved the beating and simulated execution of an Iraqi policeman. After an Article 32 hearing was held, West accepted non-judicial punishment, was fined $5,000, and allowed to retire as a lieutenant colonel.
After leaving the military, he and his family moved to Florida, where he taught at a high school for a year and worked for a defense contractor, part of this time spent in Afghanistan as a civilian adviser to the Afghan National Army. West entered politics in 2008 as the Republican nominee for Florida's 22nd congressional district in 2008, losing to Democratic incumbent Ron Klein. In a re-match in 2010, he won the seat, coinciding with significant Republican gains in the 2010 midterm elections.
West took office in January 2011 as the first African-American Republican Congressman from Florida since Josiah T. Walls left office in 1876 near the end of Reconstruction. In Congress, West served on the Armed Services and Small Business Committees and was a high-profile member of the Tea Party Caucus and the Tea Party movement.
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