View source for Vincent K. Brooks

{{short description|US Army general}}
{{Infobox military person 
|name= Vincent K. Brooks
|image= Brooks 2016.jpeg
|image_size= 
|alt= 
|caption= General Vincent K. Brooks
|nickname= "Vince"
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1958|10|24}}
|birth_place= [[Anchorage, Alaska]], U.S.
|death_date= 
|death_place= 
|placeofburial= 
|allegiance= United States
|branch= [[United States Army]]
|serviceyears= 1980–2019
|rank= [[General (United States)|General]]
|servicenumber= 
|unit= 
|commands= [[United States Forces Korea]]<br/>[[United Nations Command (Korea)|United Nations Command]]<br/>[[ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command|ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command]]<br/>[[United States Army Pacific]]<br/>[[Third United States Army|Third Army]]<br/>[[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]<br/>[[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]]<br/>1st Brigade Combat Team, [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]]<br/>2nd Battalion, [[9th Infantry Regiment (United States)|9th Infantry Regiment]]
|battles= [[Kosovo War]]<br/>[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]<br/>[[Iraq War]]
|awards= [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (4)<br/>[[Defense Superior Service Medal]]<br/>[[Legion of Merit]] (4)<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal]] (2)
|relations= Major General [[Leo A. Brooks Sr.]] (father)<br/>Brigadier General [[Leo A. Brooks Jr.]] (brother)<br/>[[Francis K. Brooks]] (uncle)
|laterwork= 
}}
'''Vincent Keith Brooks''' (born October 24, 1958) is a retired [[United States Army]] [[General (United States)|general]] who last commanded [[United States Forces Korea]], [[United Nations Command]], and ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command. He previously served as the commanding general of [[United States Army Pacific]] and prior to that as the commanding general of [[Third Army (United States)|Third Army]].<ref name=DVIDS20110603>{{cite web|title=Lt. Gen. Brooks assumed command of Third Army|url=http://www.dvidshub.net/news/71564/lt-gen-brooks-assumes-command-third-army|publisher=DVIDS|access-date=5 June 2011}}</ref>   Brooks was the [[United States Central Command]] Deputy Director of Operations during the [[War in Iraq]], and frequently briefed the media, which raised his public profile. He also served as the Chief of Army Public Affairs [[The Pentagon]]. He was the deputy commander of [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] in Baghdad during the 2006–2008 "surge" and upon returning to the United States became the commanding general of the same division. He later was commanding general of the [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]. Brooks assumed command in Korea on April 30, 2016 and was succeeded by [[Robert B. Abrams]] in November 2018, and he retired on January 1, 2019.

==Family==
Brooks was born in [[Anchorage, Alaska]], on October 24, 1958. He grew up as an [[Army brat]] in a prominent military family in [[California]]. His father, Major General [[Leo A. Brooks Sr.]], and brother, Brigadier General [[Leo A. Brooks Jr.]], both retired after careers in the [[United States Army]].<ref>Boeing Corporation, [http://www.boeing.com/boeing/aboutus/govt_ops/leadership/brooks_leo.page Biography, Leo A. Brooks, Jr.], 2011</ref><ref>Virginia State University Alumni Association, [http://www.vsuaaonline.com/alumni_military/print/ Alumni in the military], Leo A. Brooks, Sr., accessed May 7, 2013</ref> His uncle, [[Francis K. Brooks]], was the majority leader of the [[Vermont House of Representatives]] and a member of the [[Vermont Senate]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Hawkins |first=Walter L. |date= 2009-02-13|title=Black American Military Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y40-CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA59 |location=Jefferson, NC |publisher=McFarland & Company |pages=59–60 |isbn=978-0-7864-4462-5 |ref={{sfnRef|''Black American Military Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary''}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2018/27153 |title=Biography, Senator Francis K. Brooks  |author=Secretary of the Vermont Senate |work=Vermont General Assembly |publisher=Vermont Senate |location=Montpelier, VT |access-date=February 21, 2017 |ref={{sfnRef|"Biography, Senator Francis K. Brooks"}}}}</ref> Brooks attended [[Thomas Jefferson High School (1964–1987)|Thomas Jefferson High School]] in [[Alexandria, Virginia]] for two years, and then [[Jesuit High School (Sacramento)|Jesuit High School]] in [[Carmichael, California]], where he graduated in 1976. He was a varsity [[basketball]] player, and decided to follow his brother to [[United States Military Academy]] at [[West Point]] to earn a commission as an officer.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}

==Military service==
[[File:CDT Vincent Brooks.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Brooks as a cadet in 1980]]
[[File:Secretary Pompeo is Greeted by Commander General Brooks in Osan (42775227481) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Brooks with Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] in 2018]]
At West Point, Brooks was the academy's first African-American Cadet First Captain, the highest position (Cadet Brigade Commander) a cadet can hold, an appointment that brought much public visibility at an early age in life. He graduated from West Point in 1980. After graduating, Brooks served in [[South Korea]] and [[Kosovo]] among other places. In Kosovo, he concurrently served as the deputy commander of the U.S. force in Kosovo (Task Force Falcon) and as commander of the 1st Brigade, [[U.S. 3rd Infantry Division|3rd Infantry Division]] based at [[Fort Stewart]] in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. From that position he moved to the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] at [[the Pentagon]]. While serving there he was temporarily assigned to be Deputy Director of Operations at [[United States Central Command]] (CENTCOM). Returning to the Pentagon and the Joint Staff in April 2003, he became the Lead Strategic Planner for the Global War on Terrorism working closely with the CIA, the Departments of State, Treasury and Justice, the FBI and the military's [[United States Special Operations Command]] (SOCOM).{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}

In his role as Deputy Director of Operations, Brooks also became the spokesperson of CENTCOM, the main force in the [[Middle East]]. At that time he was the youngest general officer in the army. From 2006 to 2008 Brooks served as the Deputy Commanding General of 1st Cavalry Division, serving for fifteen months in Baghdad as second-in-command of the main effort (Multinational Division – Baghdad) stabilizing the Iraqi capital city and province during what is now called "The Surge." Upon return from Iraq, he took command of the 1st Cavalry Division until April 2008. Following an assignment as the Deputy Commanding General of the Army's III (Third) Corps at Fort Hood, Texas, he again took command of a combat unit, serving as the Commanding General of the historic [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]] at [[Fort Riley]] in [[Kansas]] from April 2009 to May 2011.  He deployed the unit to Iraq for a year, serving as U.S. Division – South, responsible for securing the heavily Shi'ite areas of the southern half of the country.  The headquarters was in Basra, Iraq. Following two years in a second division-level command, Brooks took command of U.S. Army Central and Third Army responsible for all U.S. Army operations throughout the Middle East and Central Asia (from Egypt to Kazakhstan). During this time, Brooks oversaw the reduction of forces in Iraq as well as the build up of forces in Afghanistan.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}

As the Commanding General of [[United States Army Pacific]] and as a part of the "Asia Pivot" of the [[East Asian foreign policy of the Barack Obama administration|Obama administration foreign policy]], Brooks envisioned and executed the "[[Pacific Pathways]]" program. The program consists of a single United States Army unit that would move to different countries of the Asia and Pacific regions for up to three months at a time to develop first-hand understanding of the region. While initially criticized in some circles,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/armys-pacific-pathways-initiative-sets-up-turf-battle-with-marines/2013/12/29/11c948c8-69b1-11e3-a0b9-249bbb34602c_story.html |title=Army's 'Pacific Pathways' initiative sets up turf battle with Marines |last1=Chandrasekaran |first1=Rajiv |date=29 December 2013 |work=The Washington Post |access-date=3 April 2014}}</ref> the innovative approach has met high acclaim from the countries of the region and the units involved in the missions.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}

In March 2016, Brooks was nominated to command [[United States Forces Korea]], the U.S.-South Korea Combined Forces Command, and [[United Nations Command]], succeeding General [[Curtis Scaparrotti]].<ref>{{cite press release |date=March 21, 2016 |title=Release No: NR-101-16: Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Gen. Vincent K. Brooks |url=http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/699142/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-ash-carter-on-gen-vincent-k-brooks |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Press Operations |agency=U.S. Department of Defense}}</ref> He served until October 2018, and was succeeded by [[Robert B. Abrams]]. Brooks retired on January 1, 2019, following the completion of his command assignment in Korea.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schifrin |first=Nick |date=January 18, 2019 |title=What a 2nd Trump-Kim summit could mean for the push to denuclearize North Korea |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-a-2nd-trump-kim-summit-could-mean-for-the-push-to-denuclearize-north-korea |work=PBS |location=Washington, DC}}</ref>

== Retirement ==
After retiring from the U.S. military, Brooks has served as a director on multiple corporate boards, including Diamondback Energy<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vincent Brooks {{!}} Board of Directors {{!}} Diamondback Energy, Inc.|url=https://www.diamondbackenergy.com/board-directors/vincent-brooks|access-date=2021-04-10|website=www.diamondbackenergy.com|language=en}}</ref> and the project management and engineering firm Jacobs,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-17|title=Jacobs Appoints Vincent Brooks to Board of Directors; Steve Demetriou Quoted {{!}} ExecutiveBiz|url=https://blog.executivebiz.com/2020/08/jacobs-appoints-vincent-brooks-to-board-of-directors-steve-demetriou-quoted/|access-date=2021-04-10|language=en-US}}</ref> which contracts heavily with the U.S. military. He is also a principal with WestExec Advisors,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-09|title=WestExec Welcomes General Vincent Brooks, USA (Ret.) and Ambassador Dana Shell Smith|url=https://westexec.com/westexec-welcomes-general-vincent-brooks-usa-ret-and-ambassador-dana-shell-smith/|access-date=2021-04-10|website=WestExec Advisors|language=en}}</ref> a consulting firm that helps "defense corporations market their products to the Pentagon and other agencies," according to the Project On Government Oversight.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Should Michèle Flournoy Be Secretary of Defense?|url=https://www.pogo.org/analysis/2020/11/should-michele-flournoy-be-secretary-of-defense/|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Project On Government Oversight|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The secretive consulting firm that’s become Biden’s Cabinet in waiting|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/23/westexec-advisors-biden-cabinet-440072|access-date=2021-04-10|website=POLITICO|language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
{|
|-
|[[File:Expert Infantry Badge.svg|130px]] [[Expert Infantryman Badge]]
|-
|[[File:Combat Action Badge.svg|110px]] [[Combat Action Badge]]
|-
|[[File:Ranger Tab.svg|80px]] [[Ranger tab]]
|-
|[[File:USAFSeniorParatrooper.jpg|90px]] [[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Senior Parachutist Badge]]
|-
|[[File:Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg|90px]] [[Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge]]
|-
|[[File:United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png|90px]] [[Army Staff Identification Badge]]
|-
|[[File:Combat service identification badge of the 1st Infantry Division.svg|60px]] [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]] [[Combat Service Identification Badge]]
|-
|[[File:United Nations Command logo.svg|90px]] [[United Nations Command]] Badge
|-
|[[File:9th Infantry Regiment DUI.gif|50px]] [[9th Infantry Regiment (United States)|9th Infantry Regiment]] [[Distinctive Unit Insignia]]
|-
|[[File:German_Silver_Para_badge.jpg|120px]] [[Parachutist Badge (Germany)|Silver German Parachutist Badge]]
|-
|[[File:ArmyOSB.svg|50px]] 7 [[Overseas Service Bar]]s
|}
{|
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -48px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -36px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -24px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span> [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] with three bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]s
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Defense Superior Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -48px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -36px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -24px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span> [[Legion of Merit]] with three bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Bronze Star ribbon|width=60}} [[Bronze Star Medal]] with oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Defense Meritorious Service ribbon|width=60}} [[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -48px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Silver oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -36px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -24px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span> [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Medal ribbon|width=60}} [[Air Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Joint Service Commendation Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Army Commendation Medal]] with one bronze oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -42px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -30px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|14px]]</span> [[Army Achievement Medal]] with two bronze oak leaf clusters
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]] with silver oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious_Unit_Commendation_ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] with one bronze oak leaf cluster
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Superior Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Superior Unit Award]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[National Defense Service Medal]] with one bronze [[service star]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=KosovoRib.svg|width=60}} [[Kosovo Campaign Medal]] with one bronze service star
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -52px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -41px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -30px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -19px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span> [[Iraq Campaign Medal]] with four service stars
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -41px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -30px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|11px]]</span> [[Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal]] with two service stars
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Global War on Terrorism Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Korea Defense Service ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Korea Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Army Service Ribbon]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=numeral|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -36px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award numeral 6.png|11px]]</span> [[Overseas Service Ribbon#Army|Army Overseas Service Ribbon]] with bronze [[award numeral]] 6
|-
|[[File:NATO Medal w Służbie Pokoju i Wolności BAR.svg|60px]] [[NATO Medal|NATO Medal for Kosovo]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Inter-american defense board medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} [[Inter-American Defense Board Medal]]
|-
|[[File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR.svg|60px]] [[Order of the Rising Sun]], Grand Cordon (Japan)
|-
|[[File:Tong-il Security Medel Ribbon.svg|60px]] [[Order of National Security Merit (Korea)|Order of National Security Merit]], Tong-il Medal (Republic of Korea)
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{C-SPAN|Vincent Brooks}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160807052142/http://www.westpointcoh.org/interviews/pursue-excellence-in-everything-west-point-s-first-african-american-first-captain "Pursue Excellence in Everything": West Point's First African-American First Captain] (archived from [http://www.westpointcoh.org/interviews/pursue-excellence-in-everything-west-point-s-first-african-american-first-captain the original] on 2016-08-07)
*[http://www.hwwilson.com/Currentbio/cover_bios/cover_bio_6_03.htm Vincent Brooks biography]
*[http://www.blackanthem.com/News/Allies_20/Iraqis_coalition_forces_battle_illegally-armed_militias3915.shtml Iraqis, coalition forces battle illegally-armed militias]
*[http://www.blackanthem.com/News/U_S_Military_19/Troops_at_Camp_Liberty_observe_Dr_Martin_Luther_King_Jr_s_birthday3595.shtml Troops at Camp Liberty observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday]

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{succession box|
 title=Commanding General of the [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]|
 before=Perry L. Wiggins|
 years=2009–2011|
 after=[[William C. Mayville Jr.]]}}
{{succession box|
 title=Commanding General of the [[Third United States Army]]|
 before=[[William G. Webster]]|
 years=2011–2013|
 after=[[James L. Terry]]}}
{{succession box|
 title=Commander of the [[United States Army Pacific]]|
 before=[[Francis J. Wiercinski]]|
 years=2013–2016|
 after=[[Robert Brooks Brown|Robert B. Brown]]}}
{{succession box|
 title=Commander of the [[United Nations Command]]<br>Commander of the [[United States Forces Korea]]<br>Commander of the [[ROK/US Combined Forces Command]]|
 before=[[Curtis M. Scaparrotti]]|
 years=2016–2018|
 after=[[Robert B. Abrams]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Vincent K.}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:African-American military personnel]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Iraq War]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Anchorage, Alaska]]
[[Category:People from Sacramento, California]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Alexandria, Virginia]]
[[Category:People from Carmichael, California]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Commanders, United States Forces Korea]]