• COVID-19
  • Progress
  • eNewsletter Sign-Up
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Give Feedback
Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)
  • HOME
  • PEO ACWA
    • ACWA logo

      Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)


      Mission: The safe elimination of chemical weapons at Pueblo and Blue Grass by Sept. 30, 2023

    • About PEO ACWA
      • Destruction Progress
      • Chain of Command
      • Team Biographies
      • Program Timeline
      • Program Legislation
      • Public Involvement
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • PEO ACWA Media Library
      • PEO ACWA News
      • PEO ACWA Videos
      • PEO ACWA Facts
      • PEO ACWA Press Releases
      • PEO ACWA Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • BLUE GRASS
    • pcapp_logo
      Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP)

      BGCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky.

    • BGCAPP Homepage
      • Project Stages
      • Destruction Technologies
      • Team Biographies
      • Environmental Activities
      • Public Involvement
      • Hydrolysate Shipments
    • BGCAPP Media Library
      • News
      • Videos
      • Facts
      • Press Releases
      • Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • PUEBLO
    • pcapp_logo
      Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)

      PCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado.

    • PCAPP Homepage
      • Project Stages
      • Destruction Technologies
      • Team Biographies
      • Environmental Activities
      • Public Involvement
    • PCAPP Media Library
      • News
      • Videos
      • Facts
      • Press Releases
      • Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • CONTACT US

Colleagues Honored for Saving Life of Pueblo Plant Worker

Published: February 25, 2016 | Category: PCAPP News, People
Project Manager Rick Holmes, left, and Col. Thomas Duncan II, right, stand with Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD) fire paramedic Joe Reno, control room operator Tom Hassing, training simulator engineer Wendell Savage and paramedics Wade Wills, Michael Whitmore and Kurt Thompson at an event sponsored by the American Red Cross. Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant and PCD employees were recognized as Hometown Heroes for responding to a medical emergency which resulted in saving a life.

Project Manager Rick Holmes, left, and Col. Thomas Duncan II, right, stand with Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD) fire paramedic Joe Reno, control room operator Tom Hassing, training simulator engineer Wendell Savage and paramedics Wade Wills, Michael Whitmore and Kurt Thompson at an event sponsored by the American Red Cross. Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant and PCD employees were recognized as Hometown Heroes for responding to a medical emergency which resulted in saving a life.

Eight Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) employees and one U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot paramedic, whose quick thinking saved the life of a fellow worker, were recognized by the American Red Cross as Hometown Heroes Feb. 17.

“I think everybody who helped is a Hometown Hero,” said Rick Holmes, Bechtel Pueblo Team project manager. “Not only did they get engaged immediately, but the way they provided care is part of what we do at the site; we take care of each other.”

On Feb. 9, 2015, Dennis O’Hanlon was walking to the PCAPP parking lot with colleague Wendell Savage when O’Hanlon began having trouble walking and later collapsed. Tom Hassing, a control room operator and former emergency medical technician, who was nearby, recognized O’Hanlon’s symptoms and began cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). On-site paramedics were called and arrived with an automated external defibrillator (AED). Defibrillation was performed and CPR was continued on the way to a local hospital.

“Early recognition, early CPR and early use of an AED are critical to life saving efforts,” said Bill Fortune, communications specialist for the American Red Cross Colorado and Wyoming Region.

In addition to Hassing and Savage, Bob Choice, Kyle Hughes, Brian Jackson, Mike Whitmore, Wade Willis, Kurt Thompson and Joe Reno are credited for saving O’Hanlon’s life.

“We have an on-site medical clinic and our paramedics rendered immediate aid,” said Holmes. “We have a number of people who are trained and certified in American Red Cross CPR. By having had that training, it saved Dennis’ life.”

“What made the difference is that people were there at that moment to get CPR started and notify medical,” said Whitmore, a paramedic with the PCAPP Medical Clinic. “No one hesitated. They assessed the situation and initiated CPR.”

“The one thing we know is that CPR saves lives,” said Fortune. “The key is being willing to do it—stepping up and helping someone in need.”

More PCAPP People Articles

  • Colleen Brisnehan, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment hazardous waste program manager, is the newest appointed member of the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens' Advisory Commission.

    Colorado Commission Welcomes New Member

    Published: May 4, 2022
  • Todd Ailes is the new Bechtel Pueblo Team project manager at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    New Bechtel Pueblo Team Manager Takes Helm

    Published: November 18, 2021
  • Redevelopment CEO Appointed to Colorado Advisory Commission

    Redevelopment CEO Appointed to Colorado Advisory Commission

    Published: October 28, 2021
  • Drew Norton, ordnance technician, left, and Jeff Mecomber, instruments and control technician, pose for a photograph after making a toxic area entry together at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Mentorship Critical to Pueblo Plant Maintenance

    Published: August 30, 2021
  • Belts equipped with a bag of practice hoses are used by beginning Demilitarization Protective Ensemble entrants to simulate the hose change process.

    Worker’s Innovation Streamlines Toxic Area Entry Training

    Published: July 29, 2021
  • Mark Honnen, an Air Force veteran and deputy chief of staff to Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, is the newest member of the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens' Advisory Commission.

    Colorado Governor Appoints New Advisory Commission Member

    Published: April 8, 2021
  • Toxic Material Handlers from the Pueblo Chemical Depot load a pallet of munitions onto a Modified Ammunition Vehicle, or MAV.

    Toxic Material Handlers Keep Up with Demand

    Published: April 6, 2021
  • Colorado Congress Members Tour Pueblo Plant

    Colorado Congress Members Tour Pueblo Plant

    Published: February 12, 2021
  • Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Automation Specialist Wendell Savage teaches the Training Facility robot about the new Drained Munition Weight Station. Later, the lessons were applied to the plant’s Munitions Washout System.

    Pueblo Plant Worker Instrumental in Campaign Success

    Published: February 2, 2021
No tags.

Other Recent PCAPP News

  • Static Detonation Chamber Trial Testing Concludes

    Static Detonation Chamber Trial Testing Concludes

    May 13, 2022
  • Backup Systems Allow for Safe Repairs

    Backup Systems Allow for Safe Repairs

    March 28, 2022
  • Color Coding Boosts Chemical Weapon Destruction

    Color Coding Boosts Chemical Weapon Destruction

    March 23, 2022
  • Plant Closely Monitors Permit Requirements

    Plant Closely Monitors Permit Requirements

    February 24, 2022
  • First Agent Destroyed in Static Detonation Chamber

    First Agent Destroyed in Static Detonation Chamber

    February 22, 2022
  • Conventional Explosives Demonstrate Static Detonation Chamber Capability

    Conventional Explosives Demonstrate Static Detonation Chamber Capability

    February 15, 2022
  • Pueblo Static Detonation Chamber Team Demonstrates Operations

    Pueblo Static Detonation Chamber Team Demonstrates Operations

    February 2, 2022
  • Mustard Agent Alternatives Used in Testing

    Mustard Agent Alternatives Used in Testing

    January 12, 2022

PCAPP People Videos

  • Pueblo Plant Engineers Bring Science to Life for Students

    Pueblo Plant Engineers Bring Science to Life for Students

    June 10, 2014
  • Pueblo, Colorado – Home of Heroes

    Pueblo, Colorado – Home of Heroes

    August 13, 2013

Connect with PEO ACWA

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Sign up for the Connect with ACWA e-newsletters to have information sent directly to your inbox. It’s a great way to stay connected with chemical weapons destruction plant activities.

Sign Up

Recent Tweets
  • Terms of Use
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Privacy and Security Policy
  • iSALUTE
  • Archive
  • Welcome to ACWA
  • Home
  • PEO ACWA Pages
    • About PEO ACWA
    • Destruction Progress
    • Team Biographies
    • Chain of Command
    • Program Timeline
    • Public Involvement
  • PEO ACWA Media Library
    • PEO ACWA Media Library (Main)
    • PEO ACWA News
    • PEO ACWA Videos
    • PEO ACWA Facts
    • PEO ACWA Press Releases
    • PEO ACWA Briefings and Reports
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Blue Grass Pages
    • BGCAPP Homepage
    • BGCAPP Project Stages
    • BGCAPP Destruction Technologies
    • BGCAPP Team Biographies
    • Environmental Activities at BGCAPP
    • Public Involvement at BGCAPP
    • Hydrolysate Shipments
  • BGCAPP Media Library
    • BGCAPP Media Library (Main)
    • BGCAPP News
    • BGCAPP Videos
    • BGCAPP Facts
    • BGCAPP Press Releases
    • BGCAPP Briefings, Reports and Downloads
  • Pueblo Pages
    • PCAPP Homepage
    • PCAPP Project Stages
    • PCAPP Destruction Technologies
    • PCAPP Team Biographies
    • Environmental Activities at PCAPP
    • Public Involvement at PCAPP
  • PCAPP Media Library
    • PCAPP Media Library (Main)
    • PCAPP News
    • PCAPP Videos
    • PCAPP Facts
    • PCAPP Press Releases
    • PCAPP Briefings, Reports, and Downloads
  • Archive
  • Job and Business Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Privacy and Security Policy
Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)