Commander of Army chemical weapons depot suspended

The commander of the Army’s Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado, received a suspension from his leadership role amid an ongoing investigation, Army officials confirmed.

Col. Jason Lacroix, who led the depot for nearly two years, was suspended earlier this month pending an internal investigation, Justine Barati, a spokesperson for the Army’s Joint Munitions Command, confirmed to Military Times. Details as to why the investigation is taking place were not immediately available.

The installation’s deputy commander, Sheila Johnson, is now in charge, Barati said, adding there has been no impact to the depot’s operations.

Pueblo Chemical Depot is one of two remaining Army installations in the United States that stores chemical weapons, the other being Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky.

The Colorado site originally stored more than 2,600 tons of mustard agent in projectiles and mortar rounds and expects to completely destroy its remaining stockpile this year, according to the program office that oversees the process.

Lacroix became the 39th commander of the installation in June 2021, according to a bio shared by the depot. Prior to serving at Pueblo, he was a senior military advisor for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction in Washington, D.C. Before that, he served as a plans officer with Army Futures Command.

Lacroix did not immediately respond to a request for comment via social media.

In Other News

January 6 convict asks for light sentence in order to remain in Navy

An active-duty service member convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack urged a judge for a light sentence in order to remain in the Navy.

Agreement helps military spouses keep federal jobs in overseas moves

Here's how an agreement between the Pentagon and State Department will help federally employed military spouses move their jobs overseas in a PCS.

Navy ship underway for Gaza pier mission suffers fire, returns to US

The cargo ship 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo suffered a fire in its engine room Thursday, forcing it to return to Florida, the Navy said.

VA to largely end animal testing on dogs, cats within two years

The Department of Veterans Affairs is slated to largely end testing on dogs, cats and nonhuman primates within the next two years.

Biden says uncle’s remains never found during WWII due to cannibals

While the claim contradicts the DPAA report about his uncle's fate, Biden's comments on cannibalism in the region during WWII are not far off.

Load More