LT CL Allen West has lived his life in service to America. In 2004, when it was time to retire from more than twenty years of service in the US Army, Col. West brought his wife and two young daughters to Broward County, Florida, where he taught high school for a year. Colonel West then returned to Afghanistan as an advisor to the Afghan army, an assignment that he finishes in November 2007.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Col. West received BS (UT) and MS degrees in political science (KSU). He also holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the US Army Command and General Staff Officer College in political theory and military history and operations.

"Education is the great equalizer," he says. "With a good education, any child in America can live his dream."

Colonel West knows that for our children to live their dreams, they need to be safe. He has faced down the world's terrorists: in Operation Desert Storm, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was battalion commander for the Army's 4th Infantry Division, and in Afghanistan, where he trains Afghan officers to take on the responsibility of securing their own country.

In his Army career, Col. West has been honored many times, including a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals (one with Valor), and a Valorous Unit Award. He received his valor award as a Captain in Desert Shield/Storm, was the US Army ROTC instructor of the year in 1993, and was a Distinguished Honor Graduate III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas Air Assault School.

Excellence is a West family tradition. His lovely wife, Angela, holds an MBA and PhD. and works as a financial planner. His daughter, Aubrey, 15, was just accepted into Cambridge academic program at Ft Lauderdale HS and his daughter, Austen, 11, is a budding young pianist.