Colonel Collin K. Keenan assumed command of Pine Bluff Arsenal on April 13, 2023.As Commander, he has the overall responsibility for the economical operations and all administration activities under the jurisdiction of the installation. He oversees the Arsenal’s more than $100 million annual operating budget and over 600 civilian employees. Pine Bluff Arsenal provides America’s Joint Warfighter with specialized ammunition, smoke, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense capabilities, through expert manufacturing, storage and logistics. He enlisted as a mechanic for the U.S. Army Reserve in 1990, and was commissioned as a Chemical Officer from the Army ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he earned the distinction of being named Political Science Graduate of the Year. Col. Keenan has earned a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky., a Master of Project Management degree in Public Policy Administration from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., a Master of Science degree in Environmental Management from Webster University, St. Louis, Mo., and a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wis.. His military education includes the Chemical Officers’ Basic Course, Chemical Captain’s Career Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the National War College. His previous assignments include: Battalion Chemical Officer, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment; Decon Platoon Leader and Recon Platoon Leader, 2nd Chemical Battalion, 44th Chemical Command; Assistant Battalion S3, 2nd Command Battalion, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment; Brigade Chemical Officer, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division; Company Commander, 2nd Chemical Battalion,181st Chemical Command, Fort Hood, Texas, 2001-2006; Joint Chiefs of Staff Intern, J-5; Joint Chiefs of Staff Intern, G-3/5/7, Army Corps of Engineers, Washington DC, 2009-2010; Brigade Operations Officer, 48th Chemical Brigade; Battalion Detachment Executive Officer, 2nd Chemical Battalion; Brigade S3, 48th Chemical Brigade, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Fort Hood, Texas, 2011-2013; HRC CM Branch Field Grade Assignments Officer for the Officer Personnel Management Directorate, Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Ky., 2014-2016; Professor of Military Science for the ROTC Program at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minn., 2016-2019; Milwaukee Army Recruiting Battalion Commander, Milwaukee, Wis., 2019-2021; Protection Directorate and Senior CBRNE Advisor to the Commanding General, III Armored Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, 2021-2023. Colonel Keenan’s awards and achievements include the Bronze Star; the Purple Heart; Defense Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Achievement Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters); Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Army Meritorious Unit Award; Army Superior Unit Award; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korea Defense Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge; Army Staff Identification Badge; Army Recruiter Identification Badge; and the Combat Action Badge.