The government lead at the Pueblo plant was named 2023 Rocky Mountain Eagle Agency Field Office Manager of the Year by the Colorado Federal Executive Board, or CFEB, on June 28.

“We’re proud of Walton Levi’s recognition in Colorado, and I think our team is lucky to have him,” said Michael Abaie, program executive officer, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives. “His years dedicated to the safe destruction of chemical weapons and his depth of experience are invaluable to our team.”

Under Levi’s oversight, the destruction of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile in Colorado experienced performance improvements and recently completed its mission ahead of a Sept. 30, 2023, deadline established by the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty, Abaie said.

In his nomination, Patrick Sullivan, research scientist, Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, said that in 2022, the PCAPP workforce destroyed nearly 20% of the more than 780,000 munitions in the stockpile. Throughout this period of high productivity, Sullivan noted how Levi maintained focus on the safety of the PCAPP workforce, safety of the Pueblo community and protection of the environment.

“His unique blend of professionalism, optimism, and devotion to duty propels him to a role model standard among his team members,” Sullivan said.

Walton accepted his award at a June 28 ceremony at the Department of Defense facility in Aurora. A native of Colorado Springs, Levi earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 1987. He served as PCAPP’s acting Site Project Manager from November 2010 to June 2011, and, more recently, as Site Project Manager from 2019 to the present.

According to the CFEB, Federal Executive Boards play an important role in communication, collaboration and cooperation among U.S. government field agencies.

Destruction of the chemical weapons stockpile in Colorado was completed June 22, and closure of the site is expected to last three to four years.