Kingston College Old Boy and former director of the DIA is dead at the age of 64.
According to the Marine Corps Times, Retired Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart died peacefully in his sleep in Aldie, Virginia, on April 28, 2023.
He as the first Black director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Vince was born in Kingston, Jamaica and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. He quickly learned what football was, and later earned an athletic scholarship to Western Illinois University where he earned his BA in History.
He then earned an MS in National Resource Strategy from, National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from Naval War College. Vince retired from the military after 38 years of distinguished service.
The trailblazing Marine’s first leadership role was as a tank platoon commander in Alpha Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division in 1982.
As head of the Defense Intelligence Agency from January 2015 to October 2017, Stewart served as one of the nation’s top military intelligence officers. He provided key advice to U.S. leadership on global and national security issues, including Russia’s involvement in Syria, North Korea’s nuclear program and advancements made by the Islamic State, among many other items.
Stewart completed his active-duty service as the deputy commander of United States Cyber Command. He retired in 2019.
Stewart is survived by his wife, five children, 15 grandchildren as well as several sisters and brothers, the obituary shared.