Heroes Get Remembered But Legends Never Die: Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart's Story
By Gracie Richburg
They say that the true greatness of a man is not measured by the heights he attains, but by the obstacles he overcomes. Throughout our lives, we have seen extraordinary individuals who embody this ethos, rising above the adversities that face them and etching their names into history textbooks. Among these luminaries, one shines with remarkable brilliance: Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart.
With tenacity that defied the status quo, Vince emerged as a trailblazer in the field of intelligence, leaving behind a profound mark throughout the pages of our history. Yet, the legacy he leaves behind transcends far more than his many achievements alone. Vince spoke out fearlessly against racial injustice and sought every day to make the world around him a better place. For our third edition of The Butterfly Bulletin, we honor the legacy that Vince has left behind and reflect on the incredible life that he lived.
Credit: American University Washington College of Law
1,800 Miles Away
On May 11, 1958 in Kingston, Jamaica, Vincent Raymond Stewart was born to parents Etheline Johnson and Vincent Stewart. At the age of 13, Vince and his family left everything they knew behind and immigrated to the United States in pursuit of the American dream. In 1971, an intimidating 1,800 miles away, the Stewart family arrived in Chicago to start their new lives. As Vince grew older, he developed a deep love and passion for football and soon excelled at the sport. As the years passed, it became more and more apparent just how special he truly was.
With an unyielding spirit and steadfast determination, Vince brought out the best in everyone. Whether it was football practice or schoolwork, Vince strove to become the best he could be at everything he did – mediocrity was not an option. The unwavering loyalty and devotion to what he cared for set Vince apart from the crowd. If he set out to do something, you knew he would be doing just that.
Upon graduating from high school, Vince earned an athletic scholarship to Western Illinois University. He excelled both in his coursework and on the football field, quickly building a reputation for himself that would prevail. As a Black man, Vince faced firsthand experience with the racial injustice that surrounded him. In an interview with DIA Public Affairs, Vince stated:
"I am so tired of being the first. There’s a tremendous pressure to be the first and set the standard. You want to be successful, because you don’t want to be the last for a long time. But there are also a whole host of folks who want you to fail. There were some who prayed for me, and some who preyed on me."
Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Climbing the Ranks
Vince graduated from WIU in 1981, excelling in his coursework and earning his Bachelor’s degree in History. As his college career drew to a close, Vince’s destiny for greatness made itself known. Vince was quickly commissioned into the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in 1981. It was this noble decision to dedicate his life to service that would change his future, molding the clay of his life into a masterful work of art. Vince later earned two Master’s degrees in National Resource Strategy and National Security & Strategic Studies.
Within the USMC, Vince served at nearly every level of command, holding dozens of titles. He began as a Platoon Leader and worked his way all the way up to Commanding General. Vince held responsibilities that the majority of us could never fathom. During some of our country’s most pressing times, he was a protector, serving his country in everything he did. Vince soon became known across the Intelligence Community and beyond for his profound leadership, steadfast loyalty to his country, and dedication to service. Despite facing adversity, Vince did so with a smile on his face, leading and serving with compassion and grace.
In 2015, Vince made history when he was named our country’s Director of Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), serving under both the Obama and Trump Administrations. Vince became the first Black man to serve as Director in our nation’s history, breaking barriers and shifting the narrative. In addition to this, Vince was also both the first Marine and the first Jamaican American to hold the title. Being many of our country’s firsts, he was nothing short of legendary, but if you told him that, he would disagree. Vince held himself to a standard of excellence and pushed those around him to be better and do better.
Credit: Laura Hatcher
Heroes Get Remembered But Legends Never Die
Throughout his impressive 38 years of service, Vince received a number of accolades and awards, honoring his impeccable dedication to our country. Just a few of his achievements included: Defense Distinguished Service, Distinguished Service Medal (United States Navy), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and many more. Vince left a legacy of excellence behind him, never settling for average.
According to friends and family of Vince, one of his non-negotiables in life was diversity, inclusion, and using his platform for good. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Vince spoke out fearlessly and unapologetically against the racial injustice he faced. With passion that could send chills down spines, Vince released an article titled “Please, Take your Knee off our Necks so we can Breathe.” In Vince’s words,
“It’s hard for me to explain and help you understand the pain of coming to America from Jamaica and becoming a minority at that moment, separate and unequal and having that feeling on the first day of elementary school… the pain of a high school student being stopped and searched nearly every time I left my apartment—and for a simple reason—the color of my skin… the pain of being described as the best Black officer in a unit, never able to be described as the best officer in the unit; never the first choice for visible prominent assignments in spite of a record of performance that was superior to my colleagues… the pain of looking around an executive level board room and realizing that you are the only person of color in the room…”
Credit: Sgt. James Bourgeois
Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart left a legacy that will never be forgotten. A legacy of excellence, of doing what is right, of putting country before oneself. He was a trailblazer, a pioneer, and a mountain of steadfast loyalty for the country he served and loved. Vince will be missed deeply by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. The sheer number of lives he touched throughout his life and the undeniable impact he had on the world around him is immeasurable. Our country and the world are better places because of Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart and his legacy will continue to live on in his honor. Vince is survived by wife Phyllis, 5 children (Vincent, Robert, Nicole, Jennifer, and Patrick) and 15 grandchildren.
Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) will posthumously award the 2023 William Oliver Baker Award to Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart on Friday, June 9, 2023. This prestigious and notable award recognizes extraordinary contributions to United States intelligence and national security affairs.
"Who are you lifting up and helping to get across the finish line?"
Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart, 2020
To learn more about the remarkable life of Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart, click here to listen to his special episode on Iron Butterfly Podcast.
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References
"CMC Remembers Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart." Marine Corps, 2023.
"The 38th William Oliver Baker Award." INSA, 2023.
Washington, DC: Defense Intelligence Agency, 2023.
