Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Vincent R. Stewart was sworn in as the 20th director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance in a ceremony on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015 held at DIA Headquarters, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.

In attendance were The Director of national Intelligence – Mr. James R. Clapper; Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence – Mr. Michael G. Vickers; Commander, U,S, Strategic Command Admiral Cecil D. Hanley, USN; Outgoing Acting Director, Defense Intelligence Agency – Mr. David R. Shedd; Director of National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency – Mr. Robert Cardillo; Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, and Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service Admiral Michael S. Rogers, USN; Director of Central Intelligence Agency – The Honorable John O. Brennan and Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation – The Honorable James B. Comey;

Other attendees included many current and former senior personnel from the Military and Defense agencies, as well as several senior members of the Military from partnering nations around the world and the Ambassador of Mexico to the USA – The Honarable Eduardo Medina Mora.

Stewart’s nomination to lieutenant general was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Dec. 10, 2014; he took over for interim director David Shedd, a former CIA official.

Maj. Gen. Stewart served most recently as Commander, Marine Forces Cyber Command. Prior to that assignment, he served as Director of Intelligence, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps in Washington, D.C.

He became the first Marine to lead DIA and the first African American to hold that position.

Lieutenant General Stewart was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica in the once quiet neighborhood of Norman Gardens where he attended Rollington Town Primary and Kingston College until 1971 when he left to take up residency in the USA.

Stewart credited his upbringing in Jamaica for his success. “The education I got here put me in a good position when I went to America” he told the Jamaican Gleaner, “I was well ahead of my classmates when they placed me in eighth grade.”

After high school he attended Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL, where he majored in History in 1981 and promptly joined the Marines Corps.

 “This is a position I know well, and Vincent is exceptionally qualified to serve in this important Intelligence Community and Department of Defense post,” Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in a statement. “Vincent’s temperament, professional background, leadership skills and integrity make him eminently suited to be the next DIA director.”

Biography:
Lieutenant General Stewart formerly served as the Commander, Marine Forces Cyber. Lieutenant General Stewart received his baccalaureate degree from Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL, where he majored in History (1981). He also earned masters’ Degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, RI (1995) and in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, DC (2002).

His military education includes: The Basic School, Quantico, VA, (1981-82); The Armor Officer Basic Course, Fort Knox, KY, (1982); The Basic Communications Officer Course, Quantico, VA, (1985), The Cryptologic Division Officer’s Course, Washington, DC, (1986), The Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, VA, (1988-1989) the Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, Newport, RI, (1994-1995), the School of Advanced Warfighting, Quantico, VA, (1995-1996) and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Ft McNair Washington, DC, (2001-2002).

Lieutenant General Stewart's principal command tours include: Tank Platoon Leader with Company A, 1st Tank (1982-1983) and Executive Officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Tank Battalion (1984-1985) Camp Pendleton, CA; Company Commander with Company I, Marine Support Battalion, Adak, Alaska (1986-1988); Company Commander with Headquarters and Service Company, 2d Radio Battalion (1989-1990); Company Commander with Company E, Marine Support Battalion, Misawa Japan (1992-1994), Commanding Officer, 1st Intelligence Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA. (1999-2001) and Commanding Officer, Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC, (2006-2008)

His principal staff assignments include: Project Officer, Light Armored Vehicle, AntiTank, Twenty-Nine Palms, CA. (1983-1984); Assistant Signals Intelligence Officer, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, (1990-1991); Assistant Operations Officer, 2d Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC, (1991-1992); Chief, Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence Officer, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Experimental, Quantico, VA, (1996-1999); Deputy Director, Intelligence Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, C3I (2001-2002); Deputy G-2, Marine Forces Central Command (2002); Senior Intelligence Planner, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for

Intelligence (2002-2005), Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Marine Corps Forces Command, Norfolk, VA, (2005-2006), Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC, (2008-2009) and Director of Intelligence, HQMC, Washington, DC, (2009-2013).

Lieutenant General Stewart's military decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit with one gold star; the Bronze Star; the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star; the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, with two gold stars; the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; the Combat Action Ribbon; the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal and various unit awards.

Video to follow: