Pueblo

Spring 2003

Pueblo Chemical Depot 

Community Outreach 

Offi ce

301 North Main Street

Suite 306B

Pueblo, CO 81003

Phone: (719) 546-0400

Fax: (719) 546-0409

Outreach Offi ce Hours

Monday–Friday

8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Other hours by appointment

Outreach Offi ce Staff

(719) 546-0400

Pueblo Chemical Depot

Public Affairs Offi cer

(719) 549-4135

Infrastructure work continues at depot

Efforts to prepare the site where Pueblo 

Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant 

is to be located are on schedule at Pueblo 

Chemical Depot. 

The infrastructure work includes upgrading 

roads to the work site, installing communication 

lines, and bringing in utilities such as gas, 

electricity, water and sewer. 

Area contractors are doing much of the work on the 

project. Familiar names like Kirkland Construction, 

Main Electric and Aquila, Inc. are seen working at 

the footprint site. 

Construction of the chem-demil facility is on 

schedule to begin in early 2004.

Contract award, Sept. 2002

Facility design, 2003-2005

Construction, 2004-2006

Pre-systemization, 2006-2007

Systemization, 2007-2008

Pilot testing, 2008-2009

Operations, 2009-2010

Closure, 2010-2012

*Schedule details will be established in conjunction 

with the systems contractor.

Current schedule for Pueblo Chemical 

Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant*

New commander leads Pueblo Chemical Depot

In February, Lt. Col. 

John A. Becker assumed 

command of Pueblo 

Chemical Depot from 

Lt. Col. Hans Kruse, acting 

commander. Kruse, who 

stepped into the breech 

until Becker could assume 

command, returns to 

the U.S. Army Soldier 

and Biological Chemical 

Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. 

Becker comes to Pueblo from MacDill Air 

Force Base, Fla., where he was the principal 

chemical offi cer for the Special Operations, 

Plans and Policy Directorate of the U.S. 

Special Operations Command, in support of special 

operations forces worldwide.

“Assuming command of Pueblo Chemical Depot 

at this time is very exciting for me personally and 

professionally,” said Becker. “Professionally speaking, 

command responsibility is a test in all aspects of 

leadership.” 

Becker added that he looks forward to his new 

assignment at Pueblo with great satisfaction. “Seeing 

the chemical disposal process moving forward after 

50 plus years of safe, secure storage of the stockpile 

will be a rewarding experience for the two years of 

my command,” he said. 

Becker entered the Army through the ROTC 

program at Western Illinois University in 1984, 

Continued on pg. 4

Construction at Pueblo Chemical Depot moves forward. 

The water supply system pump house and water storage 

tank will supply domestic and fi refi ghting water for the 

Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

Photo by Lori Waters, PCD

Lt. Col. John A. Becker, 

PCD’s new commander.

Contact Us

Reach Highlighting

the U.S. Army’s

Chemical 

Demilitarization 

Program

Pueblo

Spring 2003

Pueblo Chemical Depot 

Community Outreach 

Offi ce

301 North Main Street

Suite 306B

Pueblo, CO 81003

Phone: (719) 546-0400

Fax: (719) 546-0409

Outreach Offi ce Hours

Monday–Friday

8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Other hours by appointment

Outreach Offi ce Staff

(719) 546-0400

Pueblo Chemical Depot

Public Affairs Offi cer

(719) 549-4135
2

Chemical depot construction brings 

jobs to Pueblo

Local job seekers and business owners who are 

interested in employment and subcontracting 

opportunities related to the Pueblo Chemical AgentDestruction Pilot Plant are encouraged to contact 

the local representatives listed below.

Individuals and companies who have already 

submitted resumes and/or corporate information do 

not need to send it again. The Bechtel Pueblo Team 

is organizing that information and will provide more 

details on the hiring and subcontracting process in 

the near future.

Federal employment opportunities at 

Pueblo Chemical Depot

For job openings at Pueblo Chemical Depot, 

contact Patricia Marrero at (719) 549-4248 or 

go to www.cpol.army.mil. Once on the site, click 

on: links, regional homepages, west, employment 

information, Delegated Examining Unit (DEU) job 

announcements, and either Utah or Colorado.

Only veterans, current federal employees and 

reinstatement-eligible personnel may apply using 

the resume builder or the resumix kit. Submit a 

resume by following instructions on the website for 

resumix, listed under employment. All others may 

submit an application or resume under the vacancy 

announcements posted under employment.

Depot vacancy announcements are available through 

Beverly Miller at the Pueblo Work Link, 201 Lamkin 

St., Pueblo, CO 81003; or phone (719) 253-7834.

Employment contact opportunities with other 

groups, such as the Army Corps of Engineers, are 

provided in the Reach winter 2003 newsletter. For 

a copy or for more information, call the outreach 

offi ce at (719) 546-0400.

Employment opportunities:

Hiring to begin in early 2004

Peak of construction – 900 to 1,100 workers* 

(2004-2006)

Peak of operations – 500 to 700 workers* 

(2009-2010)

Types of jobs that will be available through 

Bechtel Pueblo Team:

• ALL construction trades

• Administrative and clerical

• Engineering

• Accounting

• Safety

• Process operators

• Procurement

• Human resources

• Other sub-contracting

positions and tasks

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Please e-mail or mail your resume to:

Bechtel Pueblo Team

Pueblo Area Offi ce

201 W. 8th St., Suite 475

Pueblo, CO 81003

Offi ce Manager: Marilyn Halverson

E-mail: mahalver@bechtel.com

SUB-CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES

Bechtel sub-contracting information:

Michele A. Jacobus, supplier advocate

(415) 538-7062

E-mail: mjacobus@bechtel.com

Sub-contactors may register with 

Bechtel at www.ebechtel.com

Include NAICS Code, SDB Certifi cation 

and HUB Zone Certifi cation

PROJECTED ECONOMIC IMPACT

• $1.5 billion facility 

• $80 million per year spent in Pueblo area, 

over 10 to 12 years

• Bechtel Pueblo Team has committed to 

achieve 80 to 85 percent local hire 

(hiring will begin in early 2004)

• Bechtel Pueblo Team will be teaming with 

Pueblo Community College and Colorado 

State University, Pueblo, for job training 

and internships.

Total Economic Impact - $2.5 billion

* Projected employment fi gures provided by Bechtel Pueblo Team
3

Bechtel Pueblo team introduced 

at open house

Representatives from various government agencies 

who will be responsible for overseeing the chemical 

weapons destruction at Pueblo Chemical Depot 

held an open house on Jan. 23 at the Pueblo 

Convention Center, introducing the destruction 

facility contractor and attracting more than 750 local 

citizens.

Lt. Col. Hans Kruse, acting depot commander, 

introduced the Bechtel Pueblo Team as the systems 

contractor that will oversee the design, construction 

and operations of the destruction facility. 

Mike Lewis, Bechtel’s project manager, told the 

capacity crowd that the company plans to hire 80 

to 85 percent of its workers from Pueblo and the 

surrounding area, but initial hiring won’t take place 

for at least eight months. (See page 2 story for 

employment information.)

Team members from the Program Manager 

Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment, 

sponsor of the open house, along with the Army 

Corps of Engineers, Colorado Citizens’ Advisory 

Commission, Pueblo Chemical Depot, and the 

Pueblo Chemical Depot Community Outreach 

Offi ce were on hand providing local job and subcontracting information and answering questions 

relating to the chemical weapons destruction 

program at Pueblo Chemical Depot. 

The Bechtel Pueblo team is in the design phase, 

developing plans for the destruction facility. Corporate 

headquarters personnel in San Francisco will complete 

the design and planning phase before construction of 

the Pueblo facility, slated to begin in 2004.

PCD’s Doug Davis, Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness 

Program Coordinator, discusses the chemical munitions 

neutralization process with a local citizen during a January 

open house at the convention center.

AMC commander tours Pueblo Chemical Depot

Gen. Paul J. Kern, commander of the U.S. Army 

Materiel Command, visited Pueblo Chemical Depot 

(PCD) for a three-hour whirlwind tour on Jan. 29, 

receiving a report on the depot’s chemical storage and 

disposal progress and an update on environmental 

cleanup issues facing the installation. 

While on the installation, he talked with PCD 

command personnel and soldiers and also toured the 

chemical stockpile storage site.

DeDe Kern accompanied her husband, meeting with 

depot housing residents, soldiers, and citizens from 

the community. “I like to assist my husband when he 

travels to various installations around the country,” 

she said. “I can give him the people perspective while 

he concentrates on the mission perspective.”

At the conclusion of the short visit, Kern and his wife 

expressed their appreciation for the outstanding job 

that depot civilians and soldiers are doing at PCD, 

and their confi dence that all connected with the 

installation will continue to look out for the interests 

of the nation and the surrounding community.

Gen. Paul J. Kern (right) presents PCD SGT Noel DeLeon (left) 

and SPC Jose Guevara (center) with Army Material Command 

coins during his visit to the depot in January.

Photo by Jenna Meyers, PCD Intern

Photo by Jenna Meyers, PCD Intern

The Pueblo Chemical Depot 

Community Outreach 

Offi ce serves as a resource for 

information concerning the 

Army’s plans for chemical 

weapons disposal in Pueblo. 

Together with the depot’s 

Public Affairs Offi ce, the 

outreach offi ce coordinates a 

variety of events designed to 

keep the community informed 

and involved.

If you would like more 

information about the 

opportunities available through 

the Pueblo Chemical Depot 

Community Outreach Offi ce, 

please call (719) 546-0400, or 

email donna_lepik@urscoleman.com

We want to 

hear from you ...
Reach

Program Manager

Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment

5183 Blackhawk Road

ATTN: AMSSB-PM-ACWA/E3331

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5424

with a bachelor’s degree in business. He also 

holds a master’s in human resources from 

National University, San Diego, Calif. 

Previous assignments include experience as a 

United Nations Military Observer in Iraq and 

Kuwait; service as a nuclear, biological and 

chemical defense training coordinator for the 

Special Operations Command and the same 

position with the Navy’s Pacifi c Fleet; brigade 

executive offi cer, Combat Support Brigade XVIII 

Airborne Corps; deputy corps chemical offi cer, 

XVIII Airborne Corps; and service as a chemical 

offi cer in the brigade and battalion levels. Initial 

assignments include company commander and 

platoon leader positions with light infantry and 

armored units.

In addition to the Chemical Offi cer Basic and 

Advanced courses, Becker’s military education 

includes the EO Staff Offi cer Course, Joint 

Firepower Control Course, CAS3, Command 

and General Staff College, and the Joint 

Professional Military Education Phase II. Awards 

and decorations include the Meritorious Service 

Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Service 

Commendation Medal, Army Commendation 

Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Army 

Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, 

United Nations Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit 

Award, and the SW Asia Campaign Medal. In 

addition, Becker has earned the Ranger Tab, 

Master Parachutist and Air Assault badges, and 

Canadian and Venezuelan parachutist badges.

For more information regarding the new 

commander, please contact Marilyn Thompson, 

public affairs offi cer, Pueblo Chemical Depot at 

(719) 549-4135.

“Assuming command 

of Pueblo Chemical 

Depot at this time 

is very exciting 

for me personally 

and professionally. 

Professionally 

speaking, command 

responsibility is a 

test in all aspects of 

leadership.”

—Lt. Col. John A. Becker,

New commander of 

Pueblo Chemical Depot

Continued from pg. 1

New commander leads Pueblo Chemical Depot