Colonel W. Maria Bochat Assumes the Duties of Commandant of the United States Army CBRN School and 33rd Chief of Chemical

Brig. Gen. Sean Crockett relinquished command of the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School to Col. W. Bochat during a change-of-commandant ceremony Tuesday on the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Plaza. 

MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood Commanding General Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck spoke on the “impact” commandants make on their regiments.

“It’s amazing to me the number of past leaders of the Chemical Regiment that are here to celebrate the Crocketts as they depart and the Bochats as they take over the mantle,” Beck said. “The commandant of a U.S. Army school is an instrumental position. Commandants also drive change, within the Army and as a whole, by providing expertise and by guiding doctrine, force development and capability solutions for our Army.”

Beck said the biggest effect the Crockett family had on the regiment was the care they provided, “not only for the Soldiers, but also their families and civilians.”

Beck said under Crockett’s command, the U.S. Army CBRN School trained more than 28,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, “directly contributing to the readiness of our force.”

Crockett thanked the MSCoE leadership for placing “tremendous faith in me.”

He said now, more than ever, it is important that the Chemical Regiment remain ready and relevant.

“We are no doubt in turbulent times. Here at the CBRN School, ready and relevant are words that we live by as we forge our nation’s volunteers and leaders into disciplined CBRN warriors of character,” Crockett said. “When you take a look at the incredible work this team has accomplished during our tenure together, it is easy to see that this organization consistently operated with unity of purpose, cohesion, trust and a dedication to success I have rarely seen in 28 years of service.”

Crockett’s next assignment is with the Eighth Army at Camp Humphreys, Korea, serving as the deputy commanding general (Operations).

Bochat, the 33rd Chief of Chemical and Commandant of the U.S. Army CBRN School, comes to Fort Leonard Wood from Camp Humphreys, where she was the chief of staff for the 2nd Infantry Division.