ECBC Division Chief Bids Farewell After 26 Years of Federal Service

After 26 years and four months, Wade Kuhlmann, Ph.D., bid farewell to federal service in a retirement ceremony on June 30 attended by dozens of ECBC staff and family members.

Kuhlmann, who served most recently as chief of ECBC’s Chemical and Biological Protection and Decontamination division, was recognized with many honors during the ceremony, including certificates from Gov. Martin O’Malley, Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, Sen. Ben Cardin and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, as well as a Commander’s Award for Civilian Service and a U.S. flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in April.

Joseph Wienand, ECBC technical director, stated, “On the occasion of your retirement, I wish to extend to you my personal thanks and the appreciation of the United States Army for the many years of service which you have given to our country. I share your pride in the contributions that you have made to the Army, and I trust that you will maintain an active interest.”

Joseph L. Corriveau, Ph.D., Research and Technology director, also expressed his appreciation for Kuhlmann’s dedicated service, stating that he was forever part of the ECBC family. 

During his ECBC service, Kuhlmann was involved in several international efforts, including serving as the U.S. representative to The Technical Cooperation Program Technology Panel 11 for respiratory protection, U.S. representative to the NATO Team of Experts to revise the NATO Respirator Triptych, and U.S. representative to the NATO working group to update the NATO Long Term Scientific Study.

“I’m very proud to have contributed to ECBC and to our country and to have worked with so many fine people all these years,” Kuhlmann said. “We make a real difference to the guys at the front line. It’s been a great ride.” 

Kuhlmann has plans to return to ECBC part-time starting later this summer as a re-employed annuitant to supervise the completion of the expansion of the Advanced Chemistry Laboratory.

Caption: Joseph L. Corriveau, Ph.D., Research and Technology director, presents Wade Kuhlmann, Ph.D., with a Commander’s Award for Civilian Service.