Fort Bliss 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade commander arrested in DWI case

The commander of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, which is stationed at Fort Bliss, was arrested on a drunken driving charge Aug. 11 in Otero County, officials confirmed Wednesday.

Col. Shana E. Peck, 49, has been suspended after she was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence in Otero County, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command spokesman Patrick Husted said in an email.

“Col. Peck has been temporarily suspended from command pending the outcome of the investigation,’ Husted said in an email. “Due to the nature of the incident, and the ongoing investigation, I am not at liberty to further discuss the situation.”

Peck has been in charge of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade since June 22, 2016.

According to Otero County court documents, Peck was arrested at about 7:40 p.m. in Mescalero near the intersection of Botella Road and U.S. 70 after she allegedly drove off the road, documents state.

She was booked into the Otero County Detention Center on suspicion of driving while under the influence.

Peck pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing Monday, court records show. She was then released from jail by a court order, jail records state.

She has a pretrial hearing Sept. 15 before Otero County Magistrate Court Judge James Scott Newton.

Husted said that the arrest will not impact the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.

“It is important to note however, that regardless of this situation, the brigade remains fully trained and ready to respond to any contingency and is fully prepared to execute its mission of providing air and missile defense to combatant commanders,” Husted said.

Peck is the first woman to command the 11th Brigade. She has held several positions in the U.S. Army over her 25-year career, including serving as the chief of staff of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

According to her biography on the U.S. Army website, Peck has been awarded several prominent medals, including the Legion of Merit; the Bronze Star; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Joint Service Commendation Medal; the Army Commendation Medal; and the Army Achievement Medal.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at 546-6249; aamartinez@elpasotimes.com; @AMartinez31 on Twitter.