Vincent Raymond Stewart

Lieutenant General Vincent R. Stewart (Ret. USMC)

Vince Stewart passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, April 28, 2023, in the early morning hours.  He was 64 years old.  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.

Included here are words from a few that were very close to Vince:

-Vince Stewart was more than a mentor to me. He was whatever I needed him to be as I grew into the officer I have become. He never told me what to do or how to do, he always pushed me to do what I needed to do in order to continue to become whatever I could be. He saw my potential and he never let me forget that I had that potential, that if I did what is required, I could accomplish anything I chose to accomplish.

He was as hard as he needed to be and as comforting as the situation required. He was always available, always ready to lend a hand. He was tireless in the pursuit of excellence and would ensure that I didn't settle for anything less than excellence.

He ensured that I had an advocate while holding his expectations of me higher than what I thought I could get to. He was persistent. Do it until you can't get it wrong... And then, do it again. High standards that anyone around him could see and understand and know what is expected.

Vince Stewart is the example that we now try to emulate. In the end, LtGen Stewart was a leader that gave more than he took.

My hope is to be able to honor him by continuing his legacy of excellence.

He and I always talked about 'The Mountain'. Vince Stewart will always be 'The Mountain'. But that's another story for another time.

Sir, I miss you already. You taught me more than you will ever know but, you never taught me how to deal with your loss...

I remain, Semper Fidelis-Lieutenant General Dimitri Henry, USMC

-- Vince was a true giant in the Intelligence Community.  He is revered by everyone, from the most senior Intelligence Community leadership to the analysts on the deck plates.  The people he called 'friends' are the Nations most capable and influential leaders.  These are the people who built our organizations, made our Nation safe and kept watch while the rest of us flourished in the security they provided.  Vince was one of the brightest stars in that constellation.  His influence on National and Defense decision-making was extraordinary.  His influence on our National Security for decades has been truly historic. Yet, there was something even greater to note.

At the top of the list of Vince's influence is his skills as a mentor and leader.  Vince inspired organizations, communities, agencies and PEOPLE.  His ability to 'lay down the law' with unambiguous direction, then send you off with a smile and a wink were legendary.  Vince is an example, a leader and a friend to thousands who feel themselves privileged to have served by his side.  Vince kept everyone on their toes...which allowed them to run fast.  

At US Cyber Command, Vince was the voice of direction in the construction of an entirely new capability.  I'm not sure that anyone else could have accomplished a task of this magnitude.  Vince had the right dexterity of force, leadership, wisdom, and inspiration that set our National Cyber capabilities into motion.    What we all see in the Information environment today, Vince saw years ago.  Building an enterprise that integrates the capabilities of both Intelligence and Defense is about the hardest project you can imagine.  Vince was that guy, that visionary, that leader.  What emerged under Vince's leadership has now become a core element of our Nation's defense.  'Best in the world' is a standard that Vince enforced and brought into being.  

At the Defense Intelligence Agency, Vince's accomplishments were also remarkable, but in a different way.  Here, he took on the challenge of reenergizing a large scale agency battered by years of combat support operations.  Vince firmly grabbed the reigns and inspired, cajoled, exhorted.  After years of exhausting work, DIA needed a voice like Vince's.  He built on the foundations his predecessors had established, and brought new energy, new direction and new inspiration to DIA.  DIA's direct role in enabling the men and women in uniform is critically important, massive in scale, and never pauses or ends.  Vince was that right leader at the right time.  Vince took an exhausted Agency and by sheer will inspired the Agency to new heights of relevance and achievement.  Under his leadership this organization grew in size, in impact and in excellence.        

As the Marine Corps Director of Intelligence, Vince’s leadership and vision were extraordinary.  After 9-11, the nation prepared for a changed world.  Vince was the voice that drove Marine Corps preparations.  Because he was held in such high regard by generations of Marine Corps leaders, he was a strategic influence.  As the 'godfather' of Marine Intelligence, Vince raised it from a quiet backwater into a vibrant capability that drove operational success for two decades.  Originally an Armored officer, Vince understood operations and inspired generations of Intel Marines through his personal example.  

Vince truly inspired excellence.  He truly inspired organizations.  But mostly, he inspired people.  Vince's story alone was an inspiration.  To work with him and see the true nature of his genius was even more so.  He was continuously calling, visiting, enabling and inspiring those who were fortunate enough to have his example and support.  When I look back, I see Vince's hand on the steering wheel of my career for years.  I know I was only one of MANY that he built-up, mentored and guided.  In this way he not only served our Nation's needs today, but also served the people who followed in his footsteps, learned from his wisdom and became better practitioners as a consequence.—Lieutenant General Michael Groen, USMC (Retired)

-- It was in 2002 that I first met Vince during OIF I in Bahrain.  He rotated over to be the Deputy G2 for the MARCENT Headquarters.  I was a junior Major, and he was a LtCol and was later selected for Colonel during the deployment.  I distinctly remember that he had a certain calmness about him — for us, he was the eye of the storm — a person who always had our back with any issue.  He taught us to learn, explore, lead and most of all—think.  He spoke and addressed the staff with a level of maturity already well beyond his rank and years of service. It was then that all of us knew “he was going places.”  

Dimitri and others who knew him longer often talked about seeking his advice and counsel by “going to the Mountain” — I’m not sure if I ever qualified to be good enough to seek his mountain advice — but I did seek advice from the Godfather on those occasions when I needed a push. Oh boy-- did he push!  For that, I am eternally grateful. I already miss his texts and me interrupting your dinners. (oops!)

What I truly appreciate about him — is that he read people well, always supported their families, never gave up on anyone and always motivated them in his own way.  I will always be humbled and honored that it was he who promoted me to BGen. I am thankful that he supported me and to see Dimitri and Mike Groen make LtGen.  That is the definition of legacy in my opinion.  He was a Giant amongst Giants.  But even more simply, he was a really good person and always brought out the best in people.—Major General William Seely III, USMC

Thoughts from some of the family:

-- I think it’s important that everyone remembers all of the contributions he made to our lives not only as a father but as a mentor for so many people.   He helped to make us all better people.

-- As a father, Vince was a cosmic force of nature, whose propulsion all of his children will feel at their backs in perpetuity. He pushed us to think deep and hard, to not relent, to learn our history, to care about our country and value its democracy, to cherish family, to explore the world, to value diversity, and to find time for worship. He encouraged our interests from music to sports and everything in between, insisting that we become better professionals, citizens, scholars, and parents than he saw himself to be. The lessons he leaves behind will be a constant source of reflection and growth. 

--A loving memory about Vincent that touched my heart is that while we were getting ready for church, Vince would play Whitney Houston’s song, “I love the Lord”, and would sing along with such passion and conviction, it filled my heart hearing his beautiful voice.  He truly loved the Lord.

-- The 2 things that I will miss so much is his calm strength and his killer smile. He was a mountain for me, his family, and many others. I also think about that in every phone call I heard, he would always say, “what can I do to help you?” Although a great husband, father, grandfather, brother, leader, mentor, Marine, and friend, he was a servant of God.

Now, he has made his final deployment. Rest in peace my love. Semper Fidelis!

Vince was preceded in death by his mother, Etheline Johnson and his father Vincent Stewart.   Also, his brother (Francis). He is survived by his wife, (Phyllis), 5 children (Vincent, Robert, Nicole, Jennifer, and Patrick), and 15 grandchildren in order of age, (Rashid, Usamah, Khattab, Ahlam, Saidah, Salahideen, Harrison, Terrell, Lily, Uriah, Sumaya, Veda, Lyric, Shahadah, and Sakina), as well his sisters and brothers (Vinette,  Paulette, Gaila, and Charmaine) and son and daughter in law (Kyle and Noor).

 In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, 909 N. Washington Street., Suite 400, Alexandria, Virginia  22314

Please follow the link below for access into Arlington Cemetery/Ft Myer Chapel

https://home.army.mil/jbmhh/my-fort/all-services/access-gate-info