W.O. West

W.O. West
Biographical information
Planet of origin	Earth
Nationality	American
Gender
Race	Tau'ri
Species	Human
Socio-political information
Occupation	Military
Rank	Major General
Allegiances	US Air Force, Project Giza
Out of Stargate universe information
Portrayed by	Leon Rippy
First appearance	Stargate

W.O. West was a US Air Force Major General. He headed Project Giza in 1995, leaving his command to Major General George Hammond by 1997.

Biography

General West was a US Air Force pilot. He was part of the Vietnam War. He is an expert of small arms. Later, he was assigned as head of the Project Giza in the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Colorado Springs, allowing Catherine Langford and a civilian team to do researchs on an artefact known at this time as "Doorway to Heaven" (Stargate).

Character's evolution

Stargate (1995)

Major General West sends two officers to Colonel Jack O'Neill's home to inform him he has been reactivated.

Two weeks after Daniel Jackson's discovery, he's leading a meeting where Jackson explains the meaning of the seven symbols found on the Giza coverstone. He allows Colonel O'Neill to show to Jackson an alien device, the Stargate, and orders to launch a dialing sequence with the dialing computer. After the connection is established, he orders to send a probe through the Stargate which collects all data for analysis. After Jackson sees that the arrival Stargate has different symbols than the Earth gate, West is about to cancel the mission, but Jackson convinces him that he can find a way to come back. West then assigns Jackson to the recon team, led by Colonel O'Neill.

Later he meets O'Neill who's looking at the Horus guards fossile found in the Giza digging in 1928. He warns O'Neill about the possible threat for Earth and tells him that this was the reason he asked him for the mission.

After the return of O'Neill, Kawalsky and Ferretti from Abydos, he sends a robot-probe through the gate which crushes instantly. Then, the Project Giza shuts down, the US Air Force ships all civilian personnel as they run out of money. West leaves the Cheyenne Mountain Complex for some reason (SG1: "Children of the Gods").

"Children of the Gods" (1997)

Major General West is replaced by Major General George Hammond.

"The Torment of Tantalus"

When Catherine Langford meets Major General George Hammond for the very first time in Stargate Command, she tells Colonel Jack O'Neill that Hammond's behavior seems worse than General West's. O'Neill reassures her, stating that "he's a Teddy Bear".

Medals and distinctions

Distinction	Badge/Ribbon	Distinction	Badge/Ribbon	Distinction	Badge/Ribbon
		Air Force pilote badge
		Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal		Air Force Commendation Medal		Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award		National Defense Service Medal		Vietnam Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal		Air Force Overseas Short Tour		Air Force Longevity Service Award (with two unknown oaf leaf clusters)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon		Air Force Training Ribbon		Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Notes

• West is married, as one can see a wedding band on his left ring finger (Stargate).
• West's next affectation after Project Giza is not known.

Behind the scenes

• Leon Rippy, who portrays W.O. West, has already worked seven times with director Roland Emmerich.

External links

• GateWorld's article on General West in The Stargate Omnipedia
• Stargate SG-1 Solutions's article on General West in The StargateWiki