Col. Matthew C. Mason assumed command of the Pine Bluff Arsenal on July 10, 2025. PBA provides America’s Joint Warfighter with specialized ammunition, smoke, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense capabilities, through expert manufacturing,storage and logistics. In December 2001, Mason was commissioned as a Chemical Officer from the Army ROTC program at the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri. Col. Mason has earned a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in environmental management from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri, and a Bachelor of Science in geography from the University of Central Missouri. Mason’s previous assignments include Battalion Chemical Officer, 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Smoke/Decon Platoon Leader, 21st Chemical Company, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Troy, Baghdad, Iraq; Assistant Professor of Military Science, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri; Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Response Team Leader, A Company, 22nd Chemical Battalion, Edgewood, Maryland; Combined Explosive Exploitation Cell Commander, Joint Task Force Paladin, Bagram, Afghanistan; Commander, 46th Chemical Company, 22nd Chemical Battalion, Edgewood, Maryland; Chief of CBRN Operations, 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Camp Walker, Korea; Brigade S3, 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, Camp Carroll, Korea; Battalion Executive Officer, Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, Camp Carroll, Korea; Chief of CBRN Officer Training Department, 84th Chemical Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Chief of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Branch, Requirements Determination Division, Army Futures Command, Austin, Texas; Battalion Commander, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment (Basic Combat Training), 3rd Chemical Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; and Chief of CWMD Combined Joint Interagency Coordination Group, United States Forces Korea and Combined Forces Command, Camp Humphreys, Korea. Mason’s deployments include two in support of OEF and two in support of OIF. Col. Mason’s military education includes Chemical Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Field Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties, Military History Instructors Course, Intermediate Level Education, and the U.S. Army War College. His awards and achievements include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Valorous Unit Award, and Parachute Badge.