Vincent K. Brooks

Vincent K. Brooks joined the board in March 2019 and is a career Army officer who recently retired from active duty as a four-star general.

General Brooks, who goes by “Vince,” is a history-maker who, during his senior year at West Point was chosen for the paramount position a cadet can hold -- the cadet brigade commander or “First Captain” – making him the first African American to lead the student body. He is also the eighth African American in history to attain the military’s top rank – four-star general in the United States Army.

He has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; a Master of Military Art and Science from the prestigious U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; was a National Security Fellow at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government; and holds an honorary Doctor of Laws from the New England School of Law.

Widely respected as a speaker and leader of cohesive, innovative organizations, within and beyond the military, his areas of expertise are: leadership in complex organizations, crisis leadership, and building cohesive trust-based teams, national security, policy, strategy, international relations, military operations, combating terrorism and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, diversity and inclusion. He is a combat veteran and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Vince is from a career military family and claims Alexandria, Virginia as home given the long roots in maternal and paternal branches of the family tree. Vince is married to Carol P. Brooks, MA, DSc. a retired Physical Therapist and currently an adult Educator. The two reside in Austin, Texas.

I have been a big fan of the work of Gary's foundation since he began it. From my first hand experiences with Gary performing for, or meeting with troops I was honored to lead, I saw the impact of Gary's selfless deeds. I am deeply honored to be on the Board of Directors where I can better help Gary provide heartfelt support to our Defenders, Veterans, First Responders, their Families and anyone else in need.

— Vincent K. Brooks