Kevin West

Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Charles West, MMM, MSM, CD is a warrant officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He is the current Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer and therefore the most senior non-commissioned member of the Canadian Forces. He was previously the Chief Warrant Officer of the RCAF.

In the summer of 1983, West joined the Canadian Forces Naval Reserve as a signalman. In January 1985, he transferred to the Regular Force and was posted to CFB Esquimalt. In 1987, he was promoted to able seaman and posted to the HMCS Gatineau. During his time in the Navy, he sailed in a number of ships on the East Coast of Canada.

In 1990, he underwent an occupational transfer to the Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator Trade and therefore became a member of the Air Force. In the rank of corporal he undertook basic aircrew training at 19 Wing Comox and then Maritime Operational Aircrew Training at 404 Squadron. In 1991, having received his wings, he was posted to No. 415 Maritime Patrol Squadron.

In 1995, he was promoted to sergeant and deployed on several operations including Op Sharp Guard in support of the United Nation sanctions in Bosnia. Promoted to Warrant Officer in 1998, he was posted to 405 MP squadron and in 2000 he was promoted to Master Warrant Officer and posted to 1 Canadian Air Division HQ. In 2006 was as promoted and posted to Canadian Forces Air Navigation School as the school CWO. In 2008 he was appointed 8 Wing CWO before deploying as the Joint Task Force-Afghanistan Air Wing CWO in 2011.

West has received the following decorations during his military career:

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Order of Military Merit (MMM)	Member
	Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)	2012 Military Division
	General Campaign Star	Southwest Asia
	Special Service Medal	With 1 bar
	Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal	2012 Canadian Version of this Medal
	Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)	With 1 clasp

He received the Meritorious Service Medal for his 2011 leadership efforts in Afghanistan.

In addition to these medals, Kevin West has also received the following:

• Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator wings
• Chief of Defense Staff Commendation
• Command Commendation
• Ship's and Shallow Water Diver badge