Sergeant Major (SgtMaj) Daniel J. West was born May 15, 1975 in Golden Valley, Minnesota.  He graduated from Osseo Senior High School in Osseo, Minnesota in 1993. After graduation, SgtMaj West enlisted into the Marine Corps and attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego in January 1994.

Upon graduation, then-Private West attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, California before attending the Basic Helicopter Course (BHC) in Millington, Tennessee. Upon graduation, Private First Class (PFC) West attended Aircrew Candidate Course in Pensacola, Florida, and was thereafter designated as a Basic Aircrewman before transferring to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina.  In August of 1994, PFC West was assigned to HMMT-204.  He attended the CH-46E Mechanics Course and Air Crewman’s Course, and was designated as a CH-46E crew chief/6172 in May of 1995.

PFC West was promoted to Lance Corporal (LCpl) in April of 1995, shortly after being assigned to HMM-162 in the flight line division as a crew chief. While at HMM-162, LCpl West was promoted to Corporal (Cpl) and deployed with the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard the USS Guam in support of operations JOINT ENDEAVOR in former Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, ASSURED RESPONSE in Liberia, Africa, and QUICK RESPONSE in Bangui, Africa. Upon returning to MCAS New River, Cpl West was reassigned to HMM-365.

During his assignment to HMM-365, Cpl West was promoted to Sergeant (Sgt) and deployed with the 22d MEU aboard the USS Nassau in support of operations JOINT ENDEAVOR in former Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, SILVERWAKE in Albania, and GUARDIAN RETRIEVAL in the Republic of the Congo and Zaire, Africa. Upon returning to MCAS New River, Sgt West supported unit training during two (2) Combined Arms Exercises (CAX) in Twentynine Palms, California, Weapons and Tactics Instruction Course (WTI) in Yuma, Arizona, and an exercise in Puerto Rico before reassignment to Naval Aviation Depot Repair Facility (NADEP) Cherry Point, North Carolina as a test crew chief and assistant production officer.

While assigned to NADEP Cherry Point, Sgt West was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt).  SSgt West worked in the Quality Assurance Division as the assistant production line officer and CH-46E/D test crew chief.  SSgt West also held collateral duties as an ISO 9000 internal auditor and Quality Assurance Representative (QAR) for the NADEP production facility. In August of 2002, SSgt West was assigned to Recruiter’s School.

Upon graduating from Recruiter’s school, SSgt West was assigned to Recruiting Station Pittsburgh as a canvassing recruiter.  After recruiting 89 new accessions and completing a successful tour, SSgt West was reassigned to HMM-365, MCAS New River in 20055.

While assigned to HMM-365, SSgt West was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt).  As the Flight Line Division Chief, GySgt West deployed with the 24th MEU in 2006 aboard the USS Iwo Jima in support of OEPRATION ENDURING FREEDOM.  During a subsequent 24th MEU deployment in 2008, GySgt West was the Maintenance Control Chief supporting combat operations in Kandahar, Afghanistan.  Upon the squadron’s redeployment, HMM-365 was re-designated as VMM-365 and GySgt West was assigned to VMM-204 in January of 2009 to be re-trained as a MV-22B crew chief (MOS 6176).

Upon being re-designated as a MV-22B crew chief, GySgt West was reassigned to VMM-365 as the Flight Line Division Chief, and in 2010 deployed on the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan in support of combat operations.  During the deployment, GySgt West was selected for First Sergeant (1stSgt).  Upon return from deployment in January of 2011, 1stSgt West was assigned as the 2d Battalion, 14th Marines, HIMARS Battery D, Inspector-Instructor (I&I) First Sergeant in El Paso, Texas.  

In 2013, 1stSgt West was assigned as Company 1stSgt, Charlie Company, 2d Radio Battalion.  In 2014, he transitioned to Company 1stSgt, Headquarters & Service Company, 2d Radio Battalion before being promoted to SgtMaj in 2016.  Upon promotion, SgtMaj West was assigned to Infantry Training Battalion–East (ITB-E) as the Battalion SgtMaj.

While assigned to ITB-E, SgtMaj West was an integral part of the Marine Corps Infantry Integration Initiative and the overhaul of all the initial infantry training period of instruction.  In August of 2017, SgtMaj West executed orders to Okinawa, Japan, were he served as Battalion SgtMaj, 3d Intelligence Battalion.  SgtMaj West was thereafter selected as SgtMaj, Marine Rotational Force Darwin in December of 2018 and assumed his post in January of 2019.

SgtMaj West is married to the former Molly Marie Pitzer of Sharpsville, PA. They have two Children Winona (15) and Kathleen (12).

SgtMaj West’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with combat “V” and strike flight of 6, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award.