Nadja West

Nadja Y. West
Born	1961 (age 55–56)
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1982 – present
Rank	Lieutenant general
Commands held	McDonald Army Community Hospital Womack Army Medical Center Europe Regional Medical Command
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (3) Army Commendation Medal Army Achievement Medal (3)

Nadja Y. West (born 1961) is a United States Army lieutenant general and the 44th U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command. West is the first black Army Surgeon General, and was the first black female active duty major general and the first black female major general in Army Medicine. West is also the first Army black female lieutenant general. She is the highest ranking female to have graduated from the United States Military Academy.

West is from the District of Columbia and after being an orphan she became the youngest in a family of 12 adopted children. She graduated high school at the Academy of the Holy Names in Silver Spring, Maryland. In 1982, West obtained a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and a Doctorate of Medicine from George Washington University School of Medicine in 1988.

West is married to Donald West, a retired Army colonel. They have two children.

West's historic promotion to be the first black female major general took place on April 19, 2013. Of her promotion, West said, "I never really thought about that part. My parents taught me to work hard and be the best I can be and things will work out. I’m just really honored. If anything at all, I hope I can be an inspiration to any one or any group that has not seen themselves in certain positions. We all want to see people who look like us doing certain things to give us inspiration. Hopefully, I can inspire someone to be able to say, 'I can do that.'"

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