Sergeant Major Paul D. Cockman, Jr. was born on 18 October 1948. He was personally selected by the Chemical School Director of Training to be the Base Realignment and Closure point of contact and Coordinator for the Chemical School’s transition to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

At Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas, Sergeant Major Cockman coordinated and instructed the Provost Marshal’s Office on Stockpile Security, Technical Escort, and Explosive Ordinance Disposal dealing with the politically sensitive transport and recovery of munitions and chemicals.

Sergeant Major Cockman was selected as First Sergeant to activate the 71st Chemical Company, the first dual purpose (Smoke and Decon) Chemical Company in the U.S. Army. His duties included not only personnel but also the fielding of the new equipment to support the unit deployed outside the continental United States.