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A look back: Norman “Chip” Newman’s 42 years of service

Published May 5, 2022
It all began in February of 1980, when the Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hired a young, energetic Memphis State University graduate. After spending some time as an intern, followed by a few years in the Inspections Section, this civil engineering major had decided to officially begin his 42-year-long career in the Geotechnical Engineering Branch. 

Fast forward to May of 2022, and that young man is now a newly retired (and already sorely missed) Geotechnical Design Section Supervisor, Mr.  Norman ‘Chip’ Newman!

It all began in February of 1980, when the Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hired a young, energetic Memphis State University graduate. After spending some time as an intern, followed by a few years in the Inspections Section, this civil engineering major had decided to officially begin his 42-year-long career in the Geotechnical Engineering Branch. Fast forward to May of 2022, and that young man is now a newly retired (and already sorely missed) Geotechnical Design Section Supervisor, Mr. Norman ‘Chip’ Newman!

It all began in February of 1980, when the Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hired a young, energetic Memphis State University graduate. After spending some time as an intern, followed by a few years in the Inspections Section, this civil engineering major had decided to officially begin his 42-year-long career in the Geotechnical Engineering Branch. 

Fast forward to May of 2022, and that young man is now a newly retired (and already sorely missed) Geotechnical Design Section Supervisor, Mr.  Norman ‘Chip’ Newman!

It all began in February of 1980, when the Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hired a young, energetic Memphis State University graduate. After spending some time as an intern, followed by a few years in the Inspections Section, this civil engineering major had decided to officially begin his 42-year-long career in the Geotechnical Engineering Branch. Fast forward to May of 2022, and that young man is now a newly retired (and already sorely missed) Geotechnical Design Section Supervisor, Mr. Norman ‘Chip’ Newman!

It all began in February of 1980, when the Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hired a young, energetic Memphis State University graduate. After spending some time as an intern, followed by a few years in the Inspections Section, this civil engineering major had decided to officially begin his 42-year-long career in the Geotechnical Engineering Branch. 

Fast forward to May of 2022, and that young man is now a newly retired (and already sorely missed) Geotechnical Design Section Supervisor, Mr.  Norman ‘Chip’ Newman!

It all began in February of 1980, when the Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hired a young, energetic Memphis State University graduate. After spending some time as an intern, followed by a few years in the Inspections Section, this civil engineering major had decided to officially begin his 42-year-long career in the Geotechnical Engineering Branch. Fast forward to May of 2022, and that young man is now a newly retired (and already sorely missed) Geotechnical Design Section Supervisor, Mr. Norman ‘Chip’ Newman!

It all began in February of 1980, when the Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hired a young, energetic Memphis State University graduate. After spending some time as an intern, followed by a few years in the Inspections Section, this civil engineering major had decided to officially begin his 42-year-long career in the Geotechnical Engineering Branch.

Fast forward to May of 2022, and that young man is now a newly retired (and already sorely missed) Geotechnical Design Section Supervisor, Mr.  Norman ‘Chip’ Newman!

“I’m going to miss a lot about him, but I think the biggest things will be his humor, his practical common sense, and his genuine interest in everybody up here as a person, not just an employee,” Geotechnical Engineer Ben Tatum said.  

As Tatum said, there’s a lot to miss about Newman. One aspect is his heart, which was always present in his work.

Newman’s work consisted of some of the  largest and most complex projects ever executed by this district. His career highpoints included the Memphis Riverfront Project and the Hickman Bluff Stabilization Project, just to name a few.

His dedication to projects has always been impressive. Also notable? His commitment to helping others. 

“In March of 2011, he volunteered to assist the St. Paul District in Minnesota with flood fighting on the Red River,” Geotechnical Engineering Branch Chief Cory Williams said. “When the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in the Memphis District began rising, Newman traveled overnight to join the efforts in Cairo, Illinois.”

Newman worked through the night as the Ohio River reached the highest stages ever recorded, which ultimately created the largest sand boil ever documented in Cairo’s history.

“The boil pumped foundation material and created pipes that could lead to catastrophic failure of the floodwall,” Williams said. “Chip worked through the night to build a sandbag ring around the sand boil, which prevented the dangerous flow of foundation material from coming out of the wall and further threatening the integrity of the floodwall.”

Newman ultimately helped prevent a disaster that could have flooded an entire city and could have claimed an untold number of lives.

His selfless nature didn’t stop at volunteering. Becoming a supervisor in 2008, all Newman wanted was to share the knowledge and expertise he’d acquired throughout his career. So that’s what he did until retiring in May of 2022.

Now, after working through four decades, one overseas deployment, five branch chiefs, a half dozen slurry trench seepage cutoff projects, over a dozen flood fights, 15 District Commanders, and hundreds of projects, Norman ‘Chip’ Newman has officially retired.  

Newman had plenty of opportunities to chase a higher grade in other parts of the Corps, but the love of his work and a great group of coworkers kept him planted in Geotech. 

“I will miss Chip’s passion and willingness to fight for what he believed was right,” Williams said. “Chip Newman served/s as a great example of someone lucky enough to find what they love to do early in life and stay with it for an entire career. And while it is true that each of us impacts the lives of everyone we touch, some people have the personality, expertise, and passion to make a lasting impression, and Chip is one of those few people we were lucky enough to know.”

This district was very lucky to say the least. Thank you, Chip, for all you did for this district, division, and nation. Your passion, character, dedication, and well, just YOU, will be very, very missed! Thank you again. And congratulations on your well-deserved retirement! Now… Enjoy!!!