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.