Togo D. West Jr.

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Early life

West was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he became an Eagle Scout with Bronze Palms, and attended Atkins High School (where his parents were teachers), graduating as valedictorian<ref name="HMB"/><ref name="BSH"/> in June 1960.<ref name=Hearing>Template:Cite news</ref>

He subsequently entered Howard University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1965.<ref name="HMB"/><ref name=Hearing/> He received his Juris Doctor degree from the Howard University School of Law in 1968, receiving cum laude honors and graduating first in his class.<ref name="LAO">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

While a freshman at Howard University, he became a brother of Zeta Phi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.<ref name="APO"/> West was a member of the Kappa Psi chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.<ref name="HMB"/><ref name="APO"/>

Early career

While a law student at Howard, West became the managing editor for the Howard Law Journal.<ref name="HMB">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Around that time, he met Gail Berry, who later became his wife.<ref name="WPobit"/>

A member of St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, he served as a vestryman and Senior Warden.<ref name="APO">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

West was a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, the organization's governing body.<ref name="BSH">Boy Scouts of America Annual Report 2011</ref> He was named a Distinguished Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America and was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award for his national contributions to America's youth.<ref name="BSH"/> He previously served as the president of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.<ref name="BSH"/>

Military and government career

After completing law school and clerking for federal District Judge Harold R. Tyler Jr.,<ref name=Hearing/> West entered the United States Army. He was in the Army Field Artillery Corps from 1965 to 1968, then attended The JAG School at the University of Virginia.<ref name="WPobit"/> He entered U.S. Army JAG Corps, and he served as an Army lawyer from 1969 to 1973.<ref name="WPobit"/>

From his military service, he earned the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal.<ref name="LAO"/> He subsequently practiced law at the firm of Covington & Burling before being appointed an associate deputy attorney general in the administration of President Gerald Ford.<ref name="WPobit"/>

West held several posts in the administration of Jimmy Carter: General Counsel of the Navy (1977–79), Special Assistant to the Secretary and to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (1979), and General Counsel of the Department of Defense (1980–81).<ref name="WPobit"/> As the Secretary of the Army, West weighed in on the Aberdeen scandal, prompting stricter enforcement and investigation into the Army's sexual harassment policies.<ref name="LAO"/>

West returned to private practice in 1981 with the firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler and later worked as senior vice president for government relations of the Northrop Corporation until he became a member of the Clinton administration.<ref>American President: Bill Clinton</ref> In 1996, as Secretary of the Army, West earned the Grand-Officer of the Order of Military Merit by the Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso.<ref>Template:In lang Template:Cite act</ref>

West was nominated by President Bill Clinton on January 27, 1998, during Clinton's second term, and was confirmed by the Senate on May 4, 1998.<ref name="LAO"/> He had previously served as Secretary of the Army from 1993 to 1998.<ref name="LAO"/> From January 2, 1998, through May 4, 1998, he served a dual role as Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of the Army while awaiting confirmation as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.<ref name="WPobit"/>

Post-government career

After leaving office, West practiced law and served on the boards of various institutions.<ref name="WPobit"/> From 2004 to 2006, he served as president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington-based think tank focused on issues of concern to minorities.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was a strong supporter of and past board member of the Mount Vernon preservation society.<ref name="WPobit"/>

West and former Chief of Naval Operations retired admiral Vernon Clark led the Defense Department's investigation into the Fort Hood massacre, issuing a report in January 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

West died of a heart attack on March 8, 2018, at the age of 75, while on a cruise between Barbados and Puerto Rico.<ref name="WPobit">Togo D. West Jr., Clinton appointee who investigated Army abuses and led veterans affairs, dies at 75</ref> He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on April 26, 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

References

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Togo D. West Jr.

Contents

Early life

Early career

Military and government career

Post-government career

See also

References

External links

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Togo D. West Jr.

Early life

Early career

Military and government career

Post-government career

See also

References

External links

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