The commanding officer of Marine Corps Cyber Command will move up to lead the Pentagon's foreign espionage arm, officials announced today.

Maj. Gen. Vincent Stewart will pin on a third star and assume command of the Defense Intelligence Agency Jan. 23, said Army Col. Steven Warren, a Defense Department spokesman.

Stewart has long been rumored as the choice to succeed Army Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, who left DIA in August and went on to retire. The agency has since been led by acting director David Shedd. Stewart's nomination to lieutenant general was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee Dec. 10, setting in motion the events leading to his move to the new position.

Stewart will be the first African-American and the first Marine to lead the DIA.

According to his official military biography, Stewart entered the Marine Corps in 1981. His previous positions include senior intelligence planner for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and director of Intelligence for Marine Corps Headquarters.

"A distinguished intelligence professional and dedicated warfighter, Major General Stewart brings a wealth of talent and leadership to the Defense Intelligence Agency and the nation's intelligence community across the agencies and organizations," Warren said, according to a DoD News and Defense Media Activity news release.

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