Togo D. West, Jr.

The Honorable Togo D. West, Jr. has served his country and his community in countless ways. He has worked alongside U.S. presidents, as well as divided his time between practicing law with Covington & Burling and sitting on numerous boards nationally and in the D.C. area.

West was secretary of veterans affairs in the Clinton Administration. He directed the federal government's second largest department, which is responsible for a nationwide system of health-care services, benefits programs and national cemeteries for America 's veterans and their dependents. He has also served his country as associate deputy attorney general of the Department of Justice during the Ford Administration, as general counsel for the Navy and the Department of Defense under the Carter Administration, and as Secretary of the Army (also during the Clinton Administration).

West also works to improve the Washington community. He is the chairman of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the chairman of the board of directors of the Washington Hospital Center . He says he's proudest of the fact that he is an Eagle Scout and was honored in 1995 with the designation and rank of Distinguished Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts. He serves as president of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which honored him with their Silver Buffalo Award for his contributions to America 's youth.

West was also honored with the 1997 Women of Washington Highlight Award, which is a tribute given annually to men who have supported the endeavors of women, as well as supported issues that are important to women.

West has served as a member of the Vestry, junior warden and senior warden of St. John 's Church on Lafayette Square and has been a member of the Standing Committee and the Finance Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, and of the Cathedral Chapter of the Washington National Cathedral.

Togo West has received numerous awards for his dedication and public service. For his military service to the U.S. , he was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal. For his public service, he has twice received the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the Department of the Army Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service, the Department of the Navy Award for Distinguished Public Service, and the Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service.

Out of all the important committees and boards that he serves on, West says that the one that gives him the greatest sense of contributing to the community, is his recent agreement to serve as chair of the Celebrity Waiters' Dinner for My Sister's Place.

West lives in Washington with his wife, Gail Berry West, whom he met in law school. They have two grown daughters, Tiffany and Hilary.