Memphis District Trailblazers: Kandita “Kandi” H. Waller is the district’s first female Chief of Readiness and Contingency Operations (RCO) / Emergency Management (EM). In 2019, Waller joined the RCO team as the Natural Disaster Program Manager, where she managed the flood fight mission. Then in 2020 during Hurricane Laura response efforts, Waller stepped up and began assuming the duties of RCO Chief, and eventually serving in this capacity on a 120-day assignment. Waller was born and reared in Memphis, went to ECS for Kindergarten through eighth grade, and White State High School 9-12th. She attended the University of Memphis for both her bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering and calls the University of Arkansas “HOGS” her team, despite her University of Memphis “Tigers” roots.