When she assumed the position as the Blue Grass plant site project manager in May 2019, Dr. Candace Coyle says she was told something she did not grasp at the time. As she departs for a new challenge, she says she understands now.
“I was told it will be the job you never knew you wanted,” said Coyle. “It has truly been and even more, it was the job I never knew I would love. It has been the most rewarding experience of my career for so many reasons. It’s been a special opportunity to be a small part of this historic legacy, but the timing was right for me to leave.”
Coyle has stepped into the position of intra-agency liaison officer between the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or OPCW, and the Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives. Her last day at the Blue Grass plant was Aug. 26. Shannon Pendergrass, previously director of operations at Blue Grass, has assumed the site project manager position.
Coyle arrived in Kentucky a day before the Operational Readiness Review initiated for the Explosive Destruction Technology and a few weeks before workers destroyed the first mustard-agent projectile in 2019. She’s leaving two months after the last weapon, a GB nerve-agent-filled rocket, was destroyed.
“Seldom in your professional career do you get to start something and see it to the end,” she said.
Coyle says the right team was in place.
“There never was a time when I thought we wouldn’t make it,” Coyle said. “Everyone helped each other succeed. The mentality never was one person trying to take credit.”
“I can’t say ‘thank you’ enough to the 1,500 workers,” Coyle said. “They were the team that could get it done. Each of them played a role and can be proud of that role, each of them is a hero.”
Coyle will move to The Hague, in the Netherlands, where she will use her combination of science expertise, chemical biological defense portfolio knowledge, and chemical demilitarization experience to help the OPCW carry out its future.
While she’s excited about the opportunity, Coyle said Blue Grass always will be special.
“It’s the hardest job I’ve ever had, but it was also as easy as it could be because of the team. You can’t forget it,” she said.
