With the completion of 4.2-inch baseline reconfiguration on June 23, ordnance technicians at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant transitioned to assist with 155mm projectile destruction and will also work on Static Detonation Chamber startup.

“We are staying with our team and we have our own line,” said Johnny Lujan Jr., ordnance technician. “Our crew already knows how to work as a team, so it helps with safety and compliance.”

This isn’t the first transition for Lujan; as a 12-year veteran of the $2 billion PCAPP workforce, Lujan started in construction. When the plant began systemization, he became an ordnance technician, starting on baseline reconfiguration of 105mm projectiles before moving on to baseline reconfiguration of the 4.2-inch mortar rounds.

“This crew’s hard work and relentless search for process improvements during baseline reconfiguration is what gave us the capability to pull six months from the schedule,” said Chanse Page, PCAPP dayshift area supervisor. ”The crew’s track record is expected to assist PCAPP in meeting the anticipated completion date for the 155mm campaign.”

Lujan said about eight members of his team should move to the SDC site soon. Three SDC units will augment the main plant by destroying the 4.2-inch mortars and other problematic munitions.

“We are pretty proud we were able to complete baseline reconfiguration of the 4.2-inch rounds safely,” Lujan said. “We are working to make sure we keep that record in working with the 155mm projectiles and then when we are at the SDC site.”