1. Vocational Leadership and Agents of Change
Lt. Gen. Nadja West
Vocational Leadership and Agents of Change

2. Background and eDUCATION
Lt. Gen. Nadja West is the 44th Surgeon General of the US Army and Commanding General of US Army MedComm
Graduated from US Military Academy with a B.S. in Engineering
Received her M.D. from George Washington University School of Medicine
Completed her Internship and Residency in Family Medicine and a Second Residency in Dermatology

3. Career Successes Officer in Charge of Aviation Clinic- Fort Campbell
Chief, Dermatology Service- Heidelberg Army Hospital, Germany
Held many command positions before Surgeon General:
Commanding General
Europe Regional Medical Command
Commander of Womack Army Medical Center
Division Surgeon, 1st Armored Division, Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany
Joint Staff Surgeon

4. Awards and Accomplishments
First black Army Surgeon General
First black female major general in Army medicine
First Army black female lieutenant general
Highest ranking female to have graduated from West Point Military Academy

5. Challenges Overcome Orphan and youngest of 12 adopted children
Faced discrimination and prevailing stigmas that exist against females and minorities in military leadership positions
Balancing family and career
Feeling afraid and holding back

6. Inspiration
Mother, sisters, and other female role models in the military
Her father who taught her the value of service, humility and being a part of something bigger than oneself
The men and women she serves
"Don't ever let anyone sway you from your dreams, if you can think it and dream it -- and you're prepared -- then I say go for it. Go for it and don't hold back,"

7. Leadership and Vocational Calling
Vocational calling: God’s call to individuals to pursue a career for His service based on one’s passions, gifts, interests and human needs.
Lt. Gen. West is a leader who responded to her vocational calling by pursuing her passions despite facing many challenges
She now inspires others to do the same-an important characteristic of a true leader
I hope I can be an inspiration to any one or any group that has not seen themselves in certain positions. We all want to see people who look like us doing certain things to give us inspiration. Hopefully, I can inspire someone to be able to say, 'I can do that.’”