Title: Retired Command Chief Warrant Officer
Company: U.S. Army
Location: Murray, Utah, United States
John A. Wester Jr., Retired Command Chief Warrant Officer at the U.S. Army, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Military for dedication, achievements and leadership in the Defense Industry.
Now retired after a successful career in the military, Mr. Wester concluded his distinguished service as a command chief warrant officer in the U.S. Army in December 2011. In this capacity, he became the first chief warrant officer 5 in the 19th Special Forces Group, a milestone he regards as his most significant professional achievement. His responsibilities included observing unit operations, identifying and addressing issues, and providing expert recommendations directly to his commander. Mr. Wester was entrusted with implementing solutions and ensuring that teams and individuals at all levels benefited from his expertise. Among his most challenging duties was notifying families of the loss of their loved ones in service and presenting the American flag at funerals, a solemn responsibility he also undertook during his tenure in the U.S. Marine Corps.
During his final years of service, Mr. Wester completed a tour in Iraq and led a two-week marching shift training for the 19th Special Forces. His leadership extended to international deployments, including multiple missions to Thailand, where he and his unit collaborated with the Thai Army to provide marksmanship instruction and conduct counter-drug operations. Similar training and operational activities were carried out in Korea, as well as across various locations in the U.S., such as Washington, North Carolina and Florida. The primary mission of these special forces units centered on unconventional warfare, requiring members to possess both foreign language proficiency and specialized skills.
Mr. Wester’s military journey began with four years in the U.S. Navy Reserves during his college years. In 1972, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Over a decade-long career with the U.S. Marines, Mr. Wester rose to the rank of captain and participated in pivotal operations throughout Southeast Asia, including the evacuations of Cambodia and Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War and the recovery of the U.S. container ship Mayaguez in May 1975.
After leaving the U.S. Marine Corps in December 1982, Mr. Wester joined Army Special Forces, serving for 28 years with assignments that took him to Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Germany, Afghanistan and Iraq. Initially entering as a captain, he resigned his commission in 1985 to remain with P-8 teams. In 1988, following an invitation from his commander, Mr. Wester became one of the first warrant officers on these teams and was appointed chief warrant officer 2. He subsequently served on Special Forces A-Teams before advancing to team commander and ultimately achieving the rank of chief warrant officer 3.
Mr. Wester has an academic background that includes a bachelor’s degree in business finance from the University of Utah in 1972 and a master’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix in 1989. He is a master parachutist qualified to lead others in airborne operations and holds military free-fall certification. Mr. Wester is also recognized as an expert marksman with both rifle and pistol.
Mr. Wester’s affiliations include membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He also serves as the president of Chapter 70 of the Special Forces Association. Following retirement from active duty, he has remained deeply involved with special forces units by facilitating marksmanship training and supporting veterans’ affairs. He has worked extensively with veterans to help them secure disability ratings from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by preparing documentation for submission through The American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars advocates. Additionally, Mr. Wester is engaged with a group dedicated to reducing suicide rates among service members and veterans nationwide.
Throughout his career, Mr. Wester earned numerous distinctions, including the Legion of Merit from the U.S. Army, three Meritorious Service Medals, several commendation medals, and five Achievement Medals from the United States Army. He also received a National Defense Service Medal and was recognized with the Combat Infantry Badge. Mr. Wester attributes much of his success to lessons learned from his father, John Wester Sr., as well as inspiration drawn from actor John Wayne’s portrayals in war films.
For Mr. Wester, retirement remains secondary to his ongoing commitment to training soldiers and advocating for their benefits, a pursuit that continues to motivate him daily. He has assisted dozens of soldiers in obtaining or increasing their VA disability ratings and looks forward to helping many more through his leadership roles within veteran communities.
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