HERMISTON – Loren Sharp is now the acting project manager of the chemical weapons incinerator at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

Sharp, previously the deputy project manager and plant general manager, was recently promoted because the previous manager, Jay Bluestein, is now working on special projects within the Raytheon Co.

Sharp, who held numerous positions at an incinerator in the South Pacific, has supervised all contractors and work on the incinerator project for about a week. The project is about 83 percent complete.

Chris Early, a protocol officer for Raytheon Demilitarziation Co., said Sharp’s appointment is for an interim period until a new project manager is assigned. Sharp may eventually become the permanent project manager, but the future of the project is in flux with Raytheon Demilitarization being sold to Morrison Knudson, a Boise engineering and construction company.

Morrison Knudson signed an agreement to buy Raytheon Engineering from the Raytheon Co. on April 17. The sale is currently under review.