TAPS: Intelligence Community Saddened by Sudden Passing of LtGen (Ret) Vince Stewart

Lieutenant General (ret) Vincent Stewart passed away suddenly on 28 April 2023 at the age of 64. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2019 after a 38-year career and had served as the 20th Director of DIA from 23 January 2015 until 3 October 2017 — the first African American, Jamaican American, and Marine to serve in the position. 

LGen Stewart was born in the Jamaican city of Kingston. He attended Kingston College before moving to the United States at the age of 13 in 1971. In 1981, he graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in history and was commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps. He attended The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia from 1981 to 1982 after receiving his commission and was selected to become an Armor Officer, ultimately becoming an intelligence officer.

As a career intelligence officer, with over thirty years’ experience in national defense, cyber security, information technology development and customer support, he served around the globe in leadership positions for both the Marine Corps and the National Security Agency, specializing in signals intelligence and cyber operations. His General Officer assignments included serving as the Commander, Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command, Director of Intelligence for the U.S. Marine Corps, and Director of DIA before his final tour of duty as the Deputy Commander U.S. Cyber Command. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps on 5 April 2019. 

 LtGen Stewart earned a baccalaureate degree from Western Illinois University and masters’ degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. and in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, D.C. Additionally, he completed executive development programs at Harvard University.

Among his awards and decorations are the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star and the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, and five children.

LtGen Stewart was a great leader, friend, and human -- his legacy lives on in the thousands he has trained, mentored and coached.

DIA has also posted this tribute to LtGen Stewart 

The Defense Intelligence Memorial page

LtGen Vincent Stewart

ISCM (Ret) Dave Mattingly and LtGen (Ret) Vince Stewart at the NIP Annual Fall Luncheon, 28 October 2022