Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 24, 1990 TAG: 9006280466
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By NEAL THOMPSON NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Duplantier said that his love for the outdoors will compel him to make environmental concerns one of his top priorities during his two years as plant commander.
"I like the outdoors. And that's why I think environment is an important thing," Duplantier said. "I'd like my children and my grandchildren to be able to use the New River. So I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that we don't do anything to insult the environment."
After spending four days learning his way around the sprawling facility, Duplantier was officially welcomed Friday at a special ceremony.
Duplantier replaces Lt. Col. Rick D'Andrea, who ended his two-year term and is returning to Washington, D.C.
In a parting speech to a few hundred guests and plant employees in fireproof suits and hardhats, D'Andrea thanked the staff for two years without a major work-related injury.
He said the 62 million pounds of propellant made during his two years and the 10 million work hours without injury are achievements rivaling any corporation in the country.
"This is a class place," he said before leaving.
Duplantier, the plant's 25th commander, said in a brief speech that he plans to continue making a quality product, "but not at the expense of safety or the environment."
After the ceremony, Duplantier seemed excited as he told a reporter about his first few days on the job.
"I've been down at the plant for about four days now walking around, trying to see as much as I can," he said. "I've talked to the workers. And safety, which is one of the main things we concentrate on, is everywhere. People have a basic safety philosophy. And that's good."
The plant seems to be running smoothly, Duplantier said, and he doesn't plan to make many changes, "other than a few minor things, like in any big organization."
Duplantier declined to talk about how recent cuts in federal defense spending have caused a loss of 300 jobs at the plant and whether it will continue.
He said he wanted to get settled and learn more about the place before he addressed that.
But he professed an open-door policy - not only to employees, as he said in his speech, but to the public.
"I'm not afraid to tell you anything. That's my philosophy," he said. "If there's an issue here and the public needs to know about it, we'll let our higher command know that it has to be told."
Duplantier is a New Orleans native and Tulane University graduate.
His last assignment was acting chief of chemical and nuclear division of the Office of Deputy Chief of Staff for Ammunition at Army Materiel Command in Alexandria.
Duplantier said he was hoping his next assignment would be commanding an ammunition plant, though he would have settled for whatever the Army gave him.
Now that he's here - with his wife, Judith, and their three children - he says he's thrilled.
"The first time I went downtown [in Radford] to get a haircut five people waved at me. It was great. Coming from D.C., you know, they run you off the road," he said.
by CNB