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Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart
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Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart Obituary

May 2, 2023

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MACOMB, IL -- U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart, 64, and a 1981 Western Illinois University History graduate, passed away Friday, April 28, in Aldie, VA.

Funeral service information is not yet available.

Stewart served in the Marine Corps for 38 years, retiring in 2019 as the deputy commander of United States Cyber Command. He was the first Marine Corps officer and the first African American to lead the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Stewart was a member of WIU's Fighting Leathernecks football team, and he was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2016. While he was on campus accepting the award, he gave the oath of office to 15 cadets who were graduating and becoming second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. He had also been working to strengthen the connection between Western and the Marines Corps.

Stewart was a member of the WIU Cyber Security Center Advisory Board, and had traveled back to Western to meet with Cyber Security students and faculty.

"It has been my privilege and honor to work with Vince. Although our paths crossed during our time as student-athletes at Western, I didn't really get to know him until these last few years as he was assisting us with our cyber security program," said WIU Foundation Executive Officer Brad Bainter. "Vince was a true leader and always promoted Western within the Marine Corps. He was always proud to say he was a Leatherneck - twice. With everything he accomplished he remained a humble person and dedicated to his family, and I will miss our conversations that covered many topics."

Throughout his career, Stewart was the 20th director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. His other command tours included Tank Platoon Leader with Company A, 1st Tank and Executive Officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Tank Battalion at Camp Pendleton; Company Commander with Company I, Marine Support Battalion, Adak, Alaska; and Company Commander with Headquarters and Service Company, 2d Radio Battalion; Company Commander with Company E, Marine Support Battalion, Misawa, Japan; Commanding Officer, 1st Intelligence Battalion at Camp Pendleton; Commanding Officer, Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division, at Camp Lejeune; and Commanding General, Marine Forces Cyberspace.

Vincent is survived by his wife, Phyllis; five children, Vincent, Robert, Nicole, Jennifer and Patrick; 15 grandchildren; and four brothers and sisters.

For additional obituary information, visit colonialfuneralhome.com/obituary/vincent-stewart.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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