ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. - Anniston Chemical Activity has a new commander to lead the depot tenant organization through its final phase of operations.
Detroit, Mich., native Lt. Col. Willie J. Flucker assumed command of ANCA during a brief ceremony here yesterday.
Conrad F. Whyne, director of the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency, ANCA's higher headquarters, officiated at the ceremony.
Lt. Col. Andrew M. Herbst, ANCA commander for the past two years, relinquished command by passing the ANCA flag to Whyne who then handed the flag to Flucker. While the ceremony demonstrates the confidence Whyne has in the abilities of Flucker, it also signifies the successful conclusion of Herbst's tenure as commander. Sgt. First Class Neil D. Tucker, ANCA senior enlisted advisor and compliance team leader, represented CMA Soldiers and ANCA civilian employees during the ceremony.
In prepared remarks, Whyne said, "Lt. Col. Herbst successfully and safely led the Anniston Chemical Activity at a remarkable pace. During (his) tenure, more than 211,000 VX and mustard munitions - nearly 32 percent of Anniston's original chemical weapons stockpile - were safely transported to the ANCDF and processed. The ANCDF reached an important milestone last month - the destruction of 75 percent of the Anniston stockpile - and that milestone would not have been possible without the professional dedication of Lt. Col. Herbst and the ANCA team."
As ANCA's new commander, Flucker will be responsible for the safe storage of the remaining Anniston chemical munitions stockpile and for ensuring ANCA is prepared to pass all regulatory and international treaty inspections. It is also likely that chemical munitions disposal operations will conclude while Flucker is in command. Therefore, as the final ANCA Commander, Flucker will be responsible for the eventual closure of ANCA.
The ANCA munitions stockpile has been shrinking since August 2003 through safe demilitarization operations at the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. So far, nearly 80 percent of the stockpile has been safely processed. More than 31 percent of the munitions were processed while Herbst was the ANCA commander, to include the last of the VX nerve agent-filled munitions in December 2008.
Flucker is moving to Anniston after being a staff officer at The Pentagon where he provided alternative analysis of strategic issues to the Army Chief of Staff and other senior leaders. Prior to The Pentagon, Flucker was deployed to Iraq. He has also served at Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Riley, Kan., and in Korea and Germany. Flucker has a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College and a Master of Science degree from Central Michigan University.
Herbst said, "Team Anniston, made up of ANCA and Anniston Army Depot employees, exceeded my initial expectations two years ago. I had heard that Team Anniston was second to none and they lived up to and even surpassed their reputation.
"Our employees safely stored the chemical munitions, safely moved munitions to the incinerator, and fully supported the extra CMA missions under taken during my tour. This is truly an impressive organization."
Herbst has had multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He has also had previous assignments at Fort Bragg, as well as two tours of duty in Germany. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida Atlantic University and a Master of Science degree from Webster University. He is moving on to support the XVIII Airborne Corps in Fort Bragg, N.C.
CMA is responsible for the safe storage of all U.S. chemical munitions, currently located in Anniston, as well as Blue Grass Army Depot, Ky.; Pine Bluff Arsenal, Ark.; Pueblo Chemical Depot, Pueblo, Colo.; Deseret Chemical Depot, Tooele, Utah; and Umatilla Chemical Depot, Umatilla, Ore. CMA also manages the Anniston disposal facility as well as similar operations at the other sites in Arkansas, Oregon and Utah.
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