Jamaican to head US Defence Intelligence Agency

UNITED States Marine Corps Major General Vincent R Stewart will assume duties as the 20th director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JFCC-ISR) on Friday, the DIA has announced on its website.

Major General Stewart, a Jamaican who attended Kingston College and who entered the Marine Corps in 1981, will take up his new post after a 10:00 am ceremony scheduled for at DIA Headquarters, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, DC.

"The US Senate confirmed his promotion to Lieutenant General December 11, 2014, and he will receive his third star just prior to assuming duties as DIA director and JFCC-ISR commander," the DIA news release said.

Major General Stewart, the DIA added, served most recently as commander, Marine Forces Cyber Command. Prior to that assignment, he served as director of intelligence at the US Marine Corps headquarters in Washington, DC.

"Stewart is the first Marine Corps officer and the first black officer to take office as the DIA director. As the full-time DIA director, Stewart succeeds US Army Lieutenant General Michael T Flynn, who left the DIA in August 2014, and subsequently retired. The agency has since been led by Acting Director David Shedd," the DIA stated.

The DIA provides military intelligence to warfighters, defence policymakers and force planners in the Department of Defense and the intelligence community, in support of US military planning and operations and weapon systems acquisition.

The agency also plans, manages, and executes intelligence operations during peacetime, crisis, and war.