The 39th commander of the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot took command of the Colorado installation which houses the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant and part of the remaining obsolete U.S. chemical weapons stockpile during a ceremony June 24.

“I’m grateful to be part of the historic mission to destroy the U.S. chemical munitions stockpile,” said Col. Jason A. Lacroix. “PCD is one of the last locations where destruction is taking place, and it’s a privilege to be part of our nation’s demilitarization effort.”

Lacroix’s previous assignment was in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the Pentagon, serving as senior military advisor for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction. Lacroix has also served in command positions at Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Hood, Texas, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Mr. Kelso C. Horne III, director, U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity, presided over the ceremony to welcome Lacroix to the post.

“I have great confidence that under Col. Lacroix’s leadership, PCD will continue to provide world-class support to the Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives destruction mission, and will continue the progress toward our nation’s goal of safe chemical stockpile elimination,” Horne said.

Col. Michael W. Cobb, who commanded the installation since 2019, relinquished his command in a ceremony that has taken place about every two years since the depot mission began in 1942.