Blue Grass Welcomes New Commanders

Col. Samuel Morgan III, left, assumed command of the Blue Grass Army Depot June 27. Lt. Col. David Dellerman, right, assumed command of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity June 25.
Col. Samuel Morgan III, left, assumed command of the Blue Grass Army Depot June 27. Lt. Col. David Dellerman, right, assumed command of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity June 25.

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

“These are experienced military leaders and, as always, the transition has been seamless,” said Shannon Pendergrass, site project manager, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “We will continue the partnership with the Blue Grass Army Depot and Blue Grass Chemical Activity that has made us all successful. I appreciate their focus on the workforce and the community.”

Shannon Pendergrass, site project manager, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, discusses plant operations with Col. Samuel Morgan III, incoming commander of the Blue Grass Army Depot, during a familiarization tour June 18.
Shannon Pendergrass, site project manager, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, discusses plant operations with Col. Samuel Morgan III, incoming commander of the Blue Grass Army Depot, during a familiarization tour June 18.

Col. Samuel W. Morgan III assumed command of the Blue Grass Army Depot, or BGAD, from Col. Brett A. Ayvazian in a ceremony June 27. The depot, established in 1941, provided the sites for the storage and destruction of the Blue Grass portion of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile. In addition, BGAD provides industrial, conventional munitions and chemical defense equipment services to the military.

“Our number-one priority is about people, it’s about taking care of people, our employees,” Morgan said. “It’s all about taking care of our community.”

Lt. Col. David A. Dellerman assumed command of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity, or BGCA, from Lt. Col. Tyler S. McKee in a ceremony June 25. BGCA, which resides on the depot’s 14,600-acre footprint, was responsible for storing, monitoring and maintaining the chemical weapons that were destroyed by the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or BGCAPP, from 2019 to 2023. BGCA continues supporting secondary waste destruction at BGCAPP.

“I emphasize transparency and communication with the community and welcome feedback and collaboration with our partners,” Dellerman said. “Let’s embark on this journey together and make a meaningful difference.”

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Lt. Col. David Dellerman receives the Blue Grass Chemical Activity (BGCA) command flag from Kelso Horne III, director, U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity, during the June 25 BGCA Change of Command ceremony. Joint Munitions Command Sgt. Major Christopher Reaves looks on. (Courtesy Blue Grass Chemical Activity)

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Col. Samuel Morgan III receives the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) command flag from Col. Ronnie Anderson, commander, U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command, during the June 27 BGAD Change of Command ceremony. Col. Brett Ayvazian, right, looks on.

Lt. Col. David Dellerman receives the Blue Grass Chemical Activity (BGCA) command flag from Kelso Horne III, director, U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity, during the June 25 BGCA Change of Command ceremony. Joint Munitions Command Sgt. Major Christopher Reaves looks on. (Courtesy Blue Grass Chemical Activity)
Lt. Col. David Dellerman receives the Blue Grass Chemical Activity (BGCA) command flag from Kelso Horne III, director, U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity, during the June 25 BGCA Change of Command ceremony. Joint Munitions Command Sgt. Major Christopher Reaves looks on. (Courtesy Blue Grass Chemical Activity)
Col. Samuel Morgan III receives the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) command flag from Col. Ronnie Anderson, commander, U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command, during the June 27 BGAD Change of Command ceremony. Col. Brett Ayvazian, right, looks on.
Col. Samuel Morgan III receives the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) command flag from Col. Ronnie Anderson, commander, U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command, during the June 27 BGAD Change of Command ceremony. Col. Brett Ayvazian, right, looks on.

Morgan joins BGAD from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, where he was director of strategy and plans for the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.

Dellerman comes to BGCA from Fort Cavazos, Texas, where he served as deputy commander for the 48th Chemical Brigade.

Military command for BGAD and BGCA changes every two years through the U.S. Army’s command selection process. BGAD will continue its conventional munitions mission after the closure of the Blue Grass plant.

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