Chairman of TLI Leadership Group, a strategic consulting firm, since 2006 and Chairman of Noblis, Inc., a nonprofit science, technology and strategy organization, since 2001. From 2004 to 2006, Secretary West was the Chief Executive Officer of, and then consultant to, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a nonprofit research and public policy institution. He served as Of Counsel to the Washington, D.C. based law firm of Covington & Burling from 2000 to 2004. Secretary West served as Secretary of the United States Department of Veteran Affairs from 1998 to 2000 and Secretary to the United States Army from 1993 to 1998. He is a Director of FuelCell Energy, Inc., Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and AbitibiBowater Inc. Age 65. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Howard University in Washington, where he also received a law degree and met Gail Berry, whom he married in 1966 and who survives him. She was later named deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force. In addition to his wife and his daughter Hilary, Mr. West leaves another daughter, Tiffany West Smink, and two grandchildren.