Iraq, Afghanistan vet takes over at Blue Grass Army Depot

Col. S.D. Dorris

RICHMOND, Ky. (WTVQ) — Col. Stephen D. Dorris, who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, assumed command Thursday of the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond from Col. Joseph R. Kurz during a virtual ceremony.

Dorris comes to BGAD after a tour as deputy chief of U.S. European Command where he
managed campaign, contingency and functional planning efforts.

And he is no stranger to Kentucky. At one time commanded the 52nd Ordnance Group Explosive Ordnance Disposal and the 184th Ordnance Battalion (EOD) at Fort Campbell, Ky.

In brief remarks, Dorris thanked Kurz for helping him and his familymake the transition to BGAD.

And o employees at the depot, Dorris said: “Your reputation is firmly established.”

Without the work of those employees, the Army could not achieve its mission of supplying
conventional munitions to warfighters around the world, Dorris said.

Col. Gavin J. Gardner, commander of the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command, said BGAD has had 33 consecutive months of “performance-to-promise,” a measurement of how the Joint Munitions Command holds itself accountable to the commitment to meet customer-required delivery dates for a range of customers.

BGAD also has 20 months of 100% perfect order fulfillment.

“Amazon would take that as a high achievement,” Gardner said.

Gardner said Dorris “is the right person to lead this organization into the future.”

In his remarks, Kurz said his time at BGAD “has been a wonderful two years.”

He praised the staff and employees.

“Col. Dorris, you have a group of world-class professionals on your team,” Kurz said.

Kurz will assume a new assignment at Fort Knox, Ky., as chief of staff of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command.