[4] West joined the Women's Royal Air Force as an aircraftwoman in 1978 at the age of 17.

[13] She served as head of the Defence Estates' Operations Housing, thereby being in charge of the renovation of service accommodation.

[5][16] She has been appointed director of Projects and Programme Delivery at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

In the 2013 New Year Honours, West was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

In 2018, she was awarded the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with two clasps: the medal represents 15 years service and each clasp is awarded for a further ten.