Nadja West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nadja Y. West
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| Born | March 20, 1961 Washington, D.C., United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1982–2019 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Surgeon General of the United States Army United States Army Medical Command Europe Regional Medical Command Womack Army Medical Center McDonald Army Community Hospital |
| Battles/wars | Gulf War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal< Legion of Merit (4) |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy (BS) George Washington University School of Medicine (MD) |
Nadja Yudith West (born March 20, 1961) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general. She served as the 44th Surgeon General of the United States Army and was also the Commanding General of the United States Army Medical Command. General West is a doctor. She made history as the first black Army Surgeon General. She was also the first black female major general and the first black female lieutenant general in the Army. She is the highest-ranking woman to have graduated from the United States Military Academy.
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Early Life and Education
Nadja West had a unique start to life. She was an orphan but was adopted at two years old. She joined a loving family in Washington, D.C. that already had eleven other adopted children. Her adoptive parents were Mabel and Oscar Grammer. Her father was a soldier for his entire career. Her mother was a journalist who started the "Brown Baby Plan." This plan helped arrange adoptions for mixed German and African American children after World War II.
Nadja West finished high school at the Academy of the Holy Names in Silver Spring, Maryland. In 1982, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. She then went on to get her Doctorate of Medicine from George Washington University School of Medicine in 1988.
A Trailblazing Military Career
Nadja West's career is full of important "firsts." On April 19, 2013, she was promoted to major general. This made her only the second black female major general in the Army. About this promotion, West said she never really thought about being the "first." She explained that her parents taught her to work hard and do her best. She hoped she could inspire others who might not see themselves in certain important roles.
She also shared that seeing a black female character, Uhura, on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek was an early positive influence for her.
On December 11, 2015, the Senate approved her promotion to lieutenant general. This made her the 44th Army Surgeon General. It also meant she was the Army's first black Surgeon General. She became the first black woman in the Army to reach the rank of lieutenant general. She was also the highest-ranking woman to graduate from the United States Military Academy. Lt. Gen. West was officially promoted on February 9, 2016. She took command of MEDCOM (the Army Medical Command) the very next day.
Medical Training and Service
General West completed her medical training in Family Medicine at Martin Army Hospital. During this time, she served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. She then specialized in dermatology at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center and the University of Colorado Medical Center. She later became the Chief of Dermatology Service at Heidelberg Army Hospital in Germany.
She also earned a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy. General West has spoken about how rewarding military medicine is. She said, "If you want to feel inspired about what military medicine does, see how appreciative these men and women are for the care they've received." She believes taking care of brave service members is the main reason the military health system exists.
Leadership Roles
Before becoming Surgeon General, General West held many important leadership positions. These included:
- Commanding General, Europe Regional Medical Command
- Commander, Womack Army Medical Center
- Division Surgeon, 1st Armored Division, Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany
- Joint Staff Surgeon, Joint Staff, Washington
General West is also a respected member of the medical community. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Life After the Military
After retiring from the Army, General West continued to contribute her skills and experience. On December 3, 2020, Johnson & Johnson announced that she had joined its board of directors. She became a member of the Board's Science, Technology & Sustainability Committee on January 1, 2021. In April 2022, she was also appointed to the Board of Visitors of the United States Military Academy.
Personal Life
Nadja West is a Roman Catholic.
Awards and Recognitions
General West has received many awards for her outstanding service. Some of her top awards include:
- Army Distinguished Service Medal (twice)
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit (four times)
In 2017, the American Legion of Honor Society gave her the "Four Chaplains Gold Medallion" award.
Images for kids
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Combat Medical Badge
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Basic Flight Surgeon Badge
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Parachutist Badge
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Air Assault Badge
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Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
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Army Staff Identification Badge
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Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Distinctive Unit Insignia
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German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency in Gold
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24th Infantry Division Combat Service Identification Badge
