Brigadier General Thomas K. Vincent
The First Commanding General of Redstone Arsenal
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Brigadier General Thomas K. Vincent was born in Dayton, Ohio, on 3 October 1895. He graduated from Kansas State College in 1916 where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He received an honor graduate appointment as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery of the regular army upon graduation. He also attended the Massachusetts Institute of T echnology from which he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. General Vincent entered active duty in October 1917 were he served as an artillery officer during World War I at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, and Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He then went to serve in the Philippines. Vincent transferred to the Ordnance Corps in July 1920. After serving the Army in various capacities during the next 32 years, General Vincent took command of Redstone Arsenal, the Army Ordnance Corps' center for rockets and guided missiles, in June 1952. He became Redstone Arsenal's first Commanding General. Prior to that, he was deputy commander of the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and Commanding General of the Ordnance Training Command at Aberdeen. |
 With incoming commander BG Toftoy 
Full letter to the workforce |
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In addition to being the Commanding General of Redstone Arsenal, he also served as Commandant of the Provisional Redstone Ordnance School from June to December of 1952. General Vincent concluded his tour as Commander and his military career in August 1954, stating in a letter to the workforce "I find that laws and regulations remove me from active duty." General Vincent held several patents for processes used in cannon manufacture by the radial-expansion method. During his thirty-six years of service, the general spent his spare time writing textbooks and keeping abreast of the scientific advances in the Ordnance Corps as well as industry. He spent eight years in the Chief of Ordnance's office in the Artillery Division and the Production Service Division Industrial Service. He has served in the Philippines, Hawaii and Germany. General Vincent has commanded Erie Proving Ground, Griesheim Ordnance Depot and Aberdeen Proving Ground. |
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Redstone Rocket notice of Vincent's death. |
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Vincent was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Commendation Ribbon. He died at his residence in Alexandria, Virginia, on 9 September 1956. On 12 June 1957, "Vincent Hall" was dedicated in his honor at the (then) Ordnance Guided Missile School. Later, a major road at Redstone Arsenal (Vincent Drive) was dedicated in his honor. |
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Dedication of Vincent Hall, 12 June 1957 |
