Allen West

BIOGRAPHY

LIEUTENANT COLONEL ALLEN BERNARD WEST (US ARMY, RETIRED)

Civilian Education:

Master of Military Arts and Sciences, US Army Command and General Staff Officer College, Political Theory and Military History and Operations (1997).
Master of Arts, Kansas State University, Political Science (1996)
Bachelor of Arts, University of Tennessee, Political Science (1983)

US Congressional Candidate, Fla District 22 (2008); achieved 45.3% voter confidence (140K plus votes) with a minimal budget of $600K against a career politician and incumbent with a $3M budget. This was accomplished in less than one year upon returning from a two and a half year deployment to Afghanistan.

Civilian Positions Held:

November 2007-Present MPRI and Calibre Inc

--Senior Analyst and Chief Operations Planner for US Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Crystal City Va. Responsible for developing planning and guidance for the US Army 88 Garrisons and Installations worldwide on supporting future missions and contingency operations, as well as routine support functions.

June 2005-November 2007 MPRI, 1201 East Abingdon Dr Suite 425, Alexandria Va, 22314-1493

-- Subject Matter Expert-Senior in support contract with US Government supporting the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A) and the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) in assisting the duly constituted Islamic Government of Afghanistan in building capable security institutions, policies, programs, and procedures to protect its people and territory and to advance its National interests in accordance with established norms and international law. Served as Team Leader for a 24 person Military Advisory group to the Afghanistan National Army in Kandahar.

August 2004-June 2005 (Teacher and Track Coach, Deerfield Beach High School, Deerfield Beach, Fla.
-- Instructor in Honors American History (Soph Pre-IB course), World History, and Honors

American Government (Senior Level Course)
-- First year track coach at Deerfield Beach HS, (22) track athletes qualified for Regional Championships, (27) athletes qualified for County Championships, 3d Place District Boys and 4th Place District Girls.

Military Education:
US Army Command and General Staff Officer College (1997)
US Army Air Assault School (1992)
US Army Combined Arms and Staff Services School (1991) US Army Jumpmaster School (1984)
US Army Basic Airborne School (1984)

US Army Field Artillery School Officers Basic Course (1984) and Advanced Course (1988)

Duty Assignments and Responsibilities:
April 2004-August 2004 Pre-Retirement Leave in Plantation Florida.

Oct 2003-April 2004 (III Corps Headquarters, Ft Hood Texas)
-- Chief, Current Operations Division, Responsible for daily operations and coordination events and training of a 60,00 plus personnel organization spread across military installations in four different States.

June 2002-Oct 2003 (4th Infantry Division, Ft Hood Texas)
-- Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Battalion Commander, Battalion Commander of the US Army's first M270A1 capable unit. Commanded over 450 Soldiers to include a reserve component National Guard element. Supervised a budget of over $1 million annually, over 270 vehicles worth in excess of $30 Million, and the welfare of families and Soldiers. Deployed unit to Ft Carson Colorado for exercise and one month later to the National Training Center (Mojave Desert California), as the first MLRS Battalion in over six years. Deployed unit to Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. Conducted complete unit movement from Kuwait to Iraq of over 250 vehicles and 700 personnel, lost only one vehicle to maintenance. Re-trained Artillery crew men to be effective in conducting mounted and dismounted patrols, checkpoints, and armed reconnaissance. Planned and coordinated the renovations to numerous civilian projects to include police stations, medical clinic, schools, soccer fields, and major ice production facility. Consolidated numerous tons of captured Iraqi equipment and ammunition. Lost no Soldiers to combat engagements nor received any incoming mortar attacks due to exceptional patrolling techniques. Sustained no loss of combat materiel.

May 1999-May 2002 (Hdqs, II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), Camp Lejeune NC)
-- Force Fires Coordinator and Planner, Responsible for all fire support related training and execution for the II MEF to include coordination of Marine fixed wing air attacks missions during land simulation and amphibious exercises. Served as part of numerous operational planning teams for deliberate and crisis action planning efforts in support of II MEF contingency and exercise operations. Also served as US Army Liaison Officer to headquarters. Planned, coordinated, briefed to members of North Carolina Congressional Delegation and Senior Naval and Marine Flag (General) officers, and executed the implementation of naval surface fires from 5"/54mm guns aboard ship to sailing in Onslow Bay (Atlantic Ocean) onto surface impact areas on Camp Lejeune.

June 1997-May 1999 (18th Field Artillery Brigade (Airborne), Ft Bragg NC)
-- Brigade Operations Officer, Responsible for the planning, coordinating, resourcing, and execution of the tactical operations, missions, and training of a unit of over 2200 Soldiers. Planned and executed the largest airborne operation in the Brigade's history, supervised the revisions of all tactical and garrison standard operating procedures.
-- Air Assault Cannon Battalion Executive Officer, Second in command of a Battalion of over 500 Soldiers, responsible for coordination of Battalion staff during deliberate decision making planning process. Responsible for managing the operating systems, budget of over $450K annually, maintenance of over 300 vehicles, personnel management, and logistical sustainment. Closed all budget accounts within 95% of required funding. Planned and executed a complete upload and air deployment by C-17 aircraft of the Battalion for an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE).

January 1995-January 1996 (2d Infantry Division, Camp Casey Korea)
-- Assistant Operations Officer and Logistics Support Operations Planner Division Support Command (DISCOM), Responsible for maintaining the operational support plans for the Division Support Command, an organization of over 3000 Soldiers, in support of Korea peninsula wartime/contingency operations. Responsible for updating logistical support requirements for Division level maneuver operations. Prepared the quarterly DISCOM training brief for the Commander.

June 1991-December 1994 (Kansas State University, Manhattan Kansas)
-- Assistant Professor of Military Science, Responsible for the training of the Junior year Cadets in preparation for their six week Advanced Leadership Training. Instructed platform classes on leadership and dismounted infantry tactics at the platoon and company levels. Planned, organized, and executed three pre-summer Camp training exercises which were attended by numerous Cadets from local universities. Trained over 50 cadets who went on to become Commissioned Officers in the US Army.

March 1988-June 1991 (1st Infantry Division, Ft Riley Kansas)
-- Rocket Artillery Battery Commander, Commander of a Multiple Launch Rocket System Battery of over 130 Soldiers and 55 vehicles, worth in excess of $10 million. Responsible for the training, maintaining, leading, and caring of the unit and their families. Deployed unit on three major exercises, complete unit deployment to Germany and two unit training rotations to the National Training Center.
-- Mechanized Infantry Battalion Fire Support Officer, Responsible for the training of a 35 man section organized to provide artillery, mortar, close air support to a mechanized infantry battalion of approximately 600 Soldiers. Deployed to Operations Desert Shield/Storm and was main effort Task Force for 1st Infantry Division and US VII Corps during combat operations.

June 1984-June 1987 (325th Airborne Battalion Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy)
-- COMPANY FIRE SUPPORT OFFICER, Responsible for the training of an 11-man team organized to provide artillery, mortar, close air, and naval gunfire support to an Airborne Infantry Company of approximately 130 Soldiers. Deployed in numerous exercises throughout the European theater and executed two patrol missions along former Soviet Bloc countries.
-- Battalion Training Officer, Responsible for integrating the daily training requirements of an Airborne Battalion of over 1200 Soldiers. Responsible for allocation of training resources and training readiness reporting.

Military Awards and Decorations: Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3), Army Commendation Medal (3) one with Valor, Valorous Unit Award, Army Achievement Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), National Defense Service Medal (3), Kuwait Liberation Medal, Saudi Arabia-Kuwait Liberation Medal, Army Service Ribbon, US Army Master Parachutist Badge, US Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia, US Army Air Assault Badge, Italian Parachutist Badge, and German Proficiency Award (Bronze).

Notable Achievements and Recognitions: Recipient of Valor award as Captain in Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Recipient of Kansas State Univ College of Arts and Sciences William Stamey Award as Outstanding Instructor (1992), Distinguished Honor Graduate III Corps Ft Hood Texas Air Assault School (August 1992), Recipient of Leo A Codd Award from American Defense Preparedness Association as Army ROTC Instructor of the Year (1993), FrontPageMagazine Man of the Year (2003), and Master SCUBA Diver certified (2007).

COMMENTARIES