Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. On February 28, a former United States Army Chemical Corps officer was inducted into the Chemical Corps Regimental Association’s Order of the Dragon at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.
Antonio J. Amos, a retired United States Army lieutenant colonel and senior Army civilian, was inducted into the order, which honors current and past Soldiers, Army civilians, and others who have contributed to the advancement of the Chemical Corps.
Major General Daryl O. Hood, commanding general of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Command, inducted Amos into the order.
The 20th CBRNE Command, headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, is the United States military’s flagship multifunctional CBRNE command.
American soldiers and civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command face the world’s most dangerous threats as part of collaborative, interagency, and international operations.
The 20th CBRNE Command, which has units on 19 bases in 16 states, is home to 75 percent of the active-duty United States Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) specialists, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, five Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams, and three Nuclear Disablement Teams (Infrastructure).
Amos had already served alongside Hood in two Army postings.
“I have known Maj. Gen. Hood for over 25 years,” Amos informed me. “We worked together at the United States Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) School in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in various positions in the 84th Chemical Battalion. He is an excellent leader, and I admire and respect him.
Amos is now the Chief of Plans and Future Operations (G3/5) for the United States Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM).
He is in charge of synchronizing, integrating, and coordinating actions that support the successful management of strategic plans and programs across the CECOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) and the C5ISR-M Enterprise.
“I continued my service as an Army civilian because it gave me an opportunity to serve the Army I love in another capacity,” Amos explained.
Amos, who is originally from New Orleans, served in the United States Army for 25 years, including deployments to Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operations Enduring Freedom.
He served at the White House, the Pentagon, and US Central Command.
Amos obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Notre Dame. He also holds master’s degrees in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University and administration from Central Michigan University.
According to Amos, becoming the commander of the 21st Chemical Company in the 82nd Airborne Division was one of the highlights of his US Army career.
“I had the pleasure of serving with some of the most professional and combat-ready Soldiers imaginable,” Amos recapped. “I genuinely believe we were the best company in the division, representing the Chemical Corps admirably. It was also an honor to serve as the CBRN Defense Program Manager in the White House Military Office. But the true pleasure of my career was meeting and serving alongside outstanding Soldiers, civilians, and family members.”
CBRN officers and professionals, also known as Dragon Soldiers, assess, defend, and mitigate weapons of mass destruction and other CBRN threats.
Amos encouraged today’s CBRN soldiers to take advantage of the Army Chemical Corps’ numerous growth and development possibilities.
“Diversify your Army experience by serving in various types of organizations, take advantage of the opportunities presented to you, learn everything you can, stay proficient in both CBRN and Army operations and help others along the way,” explained Amos.
As the most recent entrant into the Order of the Dragon, Amos was acknowledged for his unwavering contribution to the CBRN community and the Chemical Corps.
“I was humbled and honored to be inducted into the Order of the Dragon,” Amos stated. “The highlight was receiving the award from Maj. Gen. Hood in the presence of other distinguished leaders and friends, including the CECOM deputy to the commanding general, Ms. Liz Miranda, retired Sgt. Maj. Bruce Griffin and my current team from the CECOM G3/5 Plans and Future Operations Branch.”
