Allen Bernard West is an American politician, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, and conservative commentator. Born on February 7, 1961, in Atlanta, Georgia, he grew up in a military family and earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee in 1983 before serving over 20 years in the Army. West was deployed to Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf War and to Iraq in 2003, where he faced controversy for an interrogation incident involving an Iraqi police officer that led to assault charges (later dropped) and his retirement in 2007. He transitioned to politics and was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 22nd district in 2010, serving one term from 2011 to 2013 as a former U.S. Congressman (R-FL) and part of the Tea Party wave, focusing on national security, fiscal conservatism, and criticism of Islam as a political ideology. After losing re-election, he became a conservative media figure, author, and held leadership roles including chairman of the Texas Republican Party (2020–2021) and chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party (since 2024). West remains a vocal figure in right-wing circles, known for his hardline views on Islam, strong anti-Islam stance, emphasis on military experience, and criticism of Islamist extremism.