Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. - The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) has named Col. John J. Megnia as the Director of Stockpile Operations (DOSO). Col. Megnia's lengthy military career makes his background and expertise a valuable asset to CMA. He served most recently in Baghdad, as Chief of Staff for both the CJ3 Operations and J4 Logistics Directorates for United States Forces - Iraq.

The DOSO position was previously filled by Col. Raymond Naworol, who served from October 2008 to September 2009, when he deployed to Iraq. Col. Gerald Gladney, commander of the Deseret Chemical Depot, Utah, served as acting DOSO during Col. Naworol's deployment, until handing over the position to Col. Megnia.

Col. Megnia is expected to report to CMA on June 25th.

Col. Megnia began his career in 1977 at Fort Campbell, Ky. He has served in areas of the United States such as Fort Devens, Mass.; Fort Leonard Wood; Fort Hood, Texas; the Pentagon; San Francisco, Calif.; and Johnston Island in the Pacific Ocean. Col. Megnia is not new to the CMA family having served as commander of the Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colo., where he oversaw storage of the chemical weapons stockpile and completion of several environmental restoration projects.

Internationally, Col. Megnia played key roles in peace-keeping operations in Bosnia; as the U.S. Forces Korea Chemical Officer in Korea; and as an assistant operations and chemical officer in Germany.

As CMA DOSO, Col. Megnia will oversee operational activities and support the overall mission. He will provide leadership and direction to CMA commanders responsible for safe storage and destruction of the national chemical weapons stockpile.

CMA remains committed to the safe and timely destruction of the Nation's chemical agent and chemical warfare materiel. Final blister agent campaigns continue at CMA's four remaining destruction sites in Anniston, Ala.; Pine Bluff, Ark.; Tooele, Utah; and Umatilla, Ore. CMA continues to safely store chemical agent munitions at the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternative sites near Richmond, Ky. and at Pueblo, Colo. For more information about CMA, please visit www.cma.army.mil