Allen West Biography

Allen Bernard West, better known as Allen West, was born on February 7, 1961, in Atlanta, Georgia, US, to Elizabeth (Thomas) West and Herman West, Sr. He was the third of four generations of combat veterans, and both his father and older brother were military officers. While West's father fought in World War II, his brother served in Vietnam.

West’s mother was part of the civilian workforce of the United States Marine Corps. Both his parents were Democrats.

In 1983, West graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a bachelor’s degree in arts. He also holds two master’s degrees, one in political science from Kansas State University and another, in military arts and sciences, specializing in political theory and military history, from the US Army Command and General Staff Officers College.

While in tenth grade in high school, he had joined the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. Later, while at the University of Tennessee, he became part of the Army ROTC program.

While at the University of Tennessee, Allen West was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (2LT), through ROTC, on July 31, 1982. Following his graduation from the university, West stepped into active duty as an officer in US Army, at Fort Sill, on November 1, 1983. He initially attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course and later joined the airborne and jumpmaster training held at Fort Benning.

He got his first assignment as a team leader at an airborne infantry company fire support team and as a battalion training officer of the 325th Airborne Battalion Combat Team. In 1987, he was named Captain and joined the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course.

He then joined the 1st Infantry Division, commanding the Bravo Battery, 6th Field Artillery Regiment. He also served as a Battalion Task Force fire support officer for the 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment. While working with the 1st Infantry Division, he was an active part of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield (as part of the Gulf War in Kuwait).

He took over as the Battalion Commander of the 4th Infantry Division of the 2d Battalion 20th Field Artillery on June 6, 2002. He commanded his unit in the Iraq War in 2003.

After a successful 22-year stint in the army, he retired in 2004 as a Lieutenant Colonel. However, prior to this, he had been charged with beating and conducting a mock execution of an Iraqi policeman and was fined, too.

His heroics in the army got him many awards, such as the Bronze Star, three Army Commendation Medals (once with Valor device), three Meritorious Service Medals, a Valorous Unit Award, and an Army Achievement Medal. Following his military career, he taught at a school, worked for a defense contractor, and also served as a consultant for the Afghan National Army.

In November 2010, Allen West was elected to the United States Congress, as a Representative of Florida’s 22nd District. He took over his duties on January 3, 2011 and continued in office till January 3, 2013. He thus also scripted history as the first Black Republican to be elected as a Representative from Florida since Reconstruction.

As part of the 112th Congress, he brought in seven major legislations. He sponsored H. R. 1246, which was aimed at reducing costs of the Department of Defense and was passed unanimously (393-0). It was signed into a law by President Barack Obama and made part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Allen West also voted for the Balanced Budget Amendment. He later supported over 30 different bills, related to empowerment of small businesses, creation of jobs, stimulating American competitiveness, increasing production of energy, and boosting entrepreneurship.

During his tenure (2011-12), he served on the Committees on Armed Services (handing the subcommittees on Military Personnel and Emerging Threats and Capabilities) and Small Business. He was also part of the Republican Study Committee, the Tea Party Caucus, and the Congressional Black Caucus.

West also ran for the Republican nomination for the Governor of Texas but lost in the Republican primary held on March 1, 2022. On June 4, 2021, he declared his decision to resign from the position of the Texas Republican Party Chair, a position he had held since July 20, 2020. His last day as the Chair was on July 11, 2021

In January 2013, Allen West took over as the full-time director of programming for PJ Media’s Next Generation TV. In May 2013, Fox News declared that West had joined them as a contributor of political commentary for their daytime and prime time shows.

In September 2015, he was named to the Sunset Advisory Commission, a body that presides over the Texas state agencies. He is one of the National Rifle Association’s Life and Endowment Members.

In May 2016, he became part of the NRA Board of Directors. West also served as an Executive Director of the public policy research organization National Center for Policy Analysis from July 2016 to 2017.

On December 24, 1989, Allen West married Angela M. Graham. Angela is a PhD holder in education from Kansas State University. She also has an MBA and works as a financial planner.

The couple has two daughters, Aubrey and Austen. Soon after West started working with the National Center for Policy Analysis, he and his family moved to Garland in Texas.

West is a talented distance runner, a certified master scuba diver, and a motorcyclist. He was named an honorary member of the Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club.

In his leisure time, he likes cheering for the football team Tennessee Volunteers. He also co-hosted Troopathon 2013.

In October 2021, he was diagnosed with COVID-19. He did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine back then and treated himself with Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. He was also injected with monoclonal antibodies.