Her father was a career soldier and her mother was a journalist and founder of the "Brown Baby Plan", arranging adoptions of mixed German and African American children following the US military presence in Germany during and after the Second World War.

[7][8] She graduated high school at the Academy of the Holy Names in Silver Spring, Maryland.

[11] West's historic promotion to be the second black female major general took place on April 19, 2013.

'"[4] She has claimed an early, positive influence was seeing a black, female character (Uhura) on the bridge of Star Trek's USS Enterprise (NCC-1701).

It’s the reason the military health system exists: to take care of brave men and women like them.

West will serve as a member of the Board's Science, Technology & Sustainability Committee, effective as of January 1, 2021.

In April 2022, West was appointed to the Board of Visitors of the United States Military Academy.