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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)
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      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

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      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.

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      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.

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Blue Grass Welcomes New Commanders

Published: July 27, 2020 | Category: BGCAPP News, People
Col. Stephen D. Dorris, left, assumed command of the Blue Grass Army Depot July 9. Lt. Col. Edward E. Williams, right, assumed command of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity July 1

Col. Stephen D. Dorris, left, assumed command of the Blue Grass Army Depot July 9. Lt. Col. Edward E. Williams, right, assumed command of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity July 1.

The Blue Grass Army Depot and Blue Grass Chemical Activity conducted change-of-command ceremonies in July.

“These gentlemen will provide stellar leadership, guidance and support to the Blue Grass chemical weapons destruction mission during a historic time for Kentucky, the United States and the world,” said Dr. Candace Coyle, site project manager, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

Col. Stephen D. Dorris assumed command of the Blue Grass Army Depot from Col. Joseph R. Kurz in a virtual ceremony July 9. The depot, established in 1941, primarily provides industrial services and activities associated with the storage and maintenance of conventional munitions, but also provides the sites for the storage and destruction of the Blue Grass portion of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile.

Lt. Col. Edward E. Williams assumed command of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity from Lt. Col. Rodney D. McCutcheon in a virtual ceremony July 1. The chemical activity resides on the depot’s 15,000-acre footprint and is responsible for storing, monitoring and maintaining the chemical munitions that will be destroyed by the pilot plant, as well as supporting the delivery of munitions to the plant.

“We are well on our way to accomplishing this significant mission,” Coyle said. “We look forward to working with the commanders as we continue to destroy one of the two remaining locations of the U.S. stockpile of chemical weapons.”

Dorris joins the depot from his most recent tour as deputy chief of United States European Command in Germany, where he managed campaign, contingency and functional planning efforts.

Williams comes to Blue Grass from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was an instructor. He has been a chemical officer for 20 years.

Military command for the depot and chemical activity changes every two years through the U.S. Army’s senior officer selection process.

More BGCAPP People Articles

  • Kingston Reif, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Threat Reduction and Arms Control, second from left, listens as program and project officials explain the Static Detonation Chamber 2000 at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Dec. 14.

    Key Defense Official Tours Blue Grass Plant

    Published: December 21, 2021
  • Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs Deborah G. Rosenblum (center) observes the M55 rocket destruction process on screens in the Control Room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant on Oct. 12. (A portion of this photograph has been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.)

    Pentagon Official Visits Blue Grass Plant

    Published: October 14, 2021
  • Col. Stephen D. Dorris, left, assumed command of the Blue Grass Army Depot July 9. Lt. Col. Edward E. Williams, right, assumed command of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity July 1

    Blue Grass Welcomes New Commanders

    Published: July 27, 2020
  • Karl Slaughenhaupt was named the first principal deputy at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in November.

    Project’s First Principal Deputy Named

    Published: December 20, 2019
  • Recycling facility workers remove brass rotating bands from scrap 155mm projectiles previously processed at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant and delivered to the recycling facility for smelting. This material is considered clean of chemical agent per U.S. Army standards and is acceptable for recycling.

    Processed Munitions Bodies Delivered for Recycling

    Published: November 21, 2019
  • Three members of the Environmental Action Group Led by Employees, or EAGLE, team pose with team shirts at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The EAGLE team was created when employees saw an opportunity to focus on potential environmental issues.

    Sharp Eyes Assist Environmental Efforts

    Published: September 24, 2019
  • Dr. Candace Coyle

    Program Head Introduces New Site Project Manager

    Published: June 26, 2019
  • (Inset) Jeff Brubaker, site project manager, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) as an intern with the Program Manager for Chemical Destruction around 1988. Brubaker explains the Munitions Washout System to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell at BGCAPP in 2013.

    Project Lead Began Demilitarization Career as Intern

    Published: August 13, 2018
  • Col. Joseph R. Kurz, left, assumed command of the Blue Grass Army Depot July 10. Lt. Col. Rodney D. McCutcheon, right, assumed command of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity June 14.

    New Commanders Welcomed at Blue Grass

    Published: July 23, 2018
  • A safety team member hands an employee a pin reflecting a safety-culture belief at the first Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant safety fair.

    Blue Grass Embraces Workplace Values

    Published: April 24, 2018
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Other Recent BGCAPP News

  • Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    April 19, 2022
  • New Tank Safely Lowered Through Roof

    New Tank Safely Lowered Through Roof

    March 30, 2022
  • Former Mustard Destruction Facility Passes Crucial Test

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    March 1, 2022
  • Comment Period Open for Public Input on Draft Environmental Permit

    Comment Period Open for Public Input on Draft Environmental Permit

    February 23, 2022
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    Decontamination Efforts Begin on Projectile Equipment

    February 8, 2022

BGCAPP People Videos

  • Blue Grass Plant Employees Prepare Through Training

    Blue Grass Plant Employees Prepare Through Training

    September 22, 2015
  • Employees Bring Wealth of Experience to Blue Grass Plant

    Employees Bring Wealth of Experience to Blue Grass Plant

    June 9, 2015
  • Blue Grass Plant Volunteers Bring Engineering to Life for Students

    Blue Grass Plant Volunteers Bring Engineering to Life for Students

    May 30, 2015
  • Blue Grass Builds on Community Involvement

    Blue Grass Builds on Community Involvement

    July 2, 2014
  • Education Outreach in Kentucky

    Education Outreach in Kentucky

    September 13, 2012

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