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District News Stories

  • January

    IN THE PHOTOS, (left) Regulatory Supervisor Ben Pitcock flood duty in the Cairo, Illinois area back in 2016. (right) Pitcock with his wife and children (“My most important people). To show how much we value our employees, we highlight one district professional every month by asking a few questions about their position and how they got to where they are today. This month, we are highlighting Regulatory Division Supervisor Benjamin Pitcock. Pitcock said his duties consist of leading a high-performing and technically advanced team of USACE professionals. The professionals he’s alluding to manage a program committed to protecting the Nation's aquatic resources while allowing reasonable development through fair, flexible and balanced permit decisions. The Corps evaluates permit applications for essentially all construction activities in the Nation's waters, including wetlands.

    Employee Spotlight: Regulatory Supervisor Ben Pitcock

    In any business, it's the people that make it work. Without a team, organizations fail. On top of everything else valued, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District values every one of its employees very much. To show how much we value them, we highlight one district employee every month by asking about their position, what it’s like to work for the Corps, and how they got to where they are today. This month, we are highlighting Regulatory Division Supervisor Benjamin Pitcock.

  • December

    Structural Engineer Phillip Pinkston celebrates his retirement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after an impressive 48 years of federal service. During his retirement ceremony, Memphis District Commander Col. Zachary Miller presented Pinkston with a Civilian Service Commendation Medal, Certificate of Retirement, and a special Certificate of Thanks. Pinkston spent two years with the Army Depot in Lexington before moving to Memphis, Tennessee, to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Throughout the next 46 years, Pinkston would hold the positions of civil engineering technician, engineering draftsman, and finally, structural engineer. His more memorable project is his first, which was developing a repair design for a levee slide at the Huxtable Pumping Station. Congratulations again on your retirement, Mr. Phillip Pinkston, and many thanks for your dedicated service to the Memphis District, the Mississippi Valley Division, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (USACE photos by Vance Harris)

    A look back: Pinkston's 48 years of service

    After an astonishing 48 years of combined federal service, Phillip Pinkston has decided to hang his hat, celebrating both the end and beginning of two of life’s most rewarding chapters. To celebrate his well-deserved retirement, we’re taking a look back to acknowledge all he accomplished, hear from the people he positively impacted, and more.
  • Real Estate Chief Hugh Coleman celebrates his retirement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after an impressive 36 years of federal service. During his retirement ceremony, Memphis District Commander Col. Zachary Miller presented Coleman with a Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, Certificate of Retirement, and a special Certificate of Thanks. Among his many career accomplishments, Coleman successfully led the Memphis real estate team to acquire perpetual easements for the St. Francis Basin, resulting in $5.5 million in land payments and achieving a successful contract award for each area's project. Congratulations again on your retirement, Mr. Hugh Coleman, and many thanks for your dedicated service to the Memphis District, the Mississippi Valley Division, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (USACE photos by Vance Harris)

    A look back: Coleman's 36 years of service

    Real Estate Chief Hugh Coleman recently retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after an incredible 36 years of federal service. To celebrate and recognize his accomplishments, we take a look back at his eventful and inspiring life and career.
  • IN THE PHOTO, Commander Col. Zachary Miller presents Program Analyst Lisa Word with a Certificate of Retirement at her retirement ceremony. Word is retiring after an impressive 32 years of federal service. (USACE photos by Vance Harris)

    A look back: Word's 32 years of service

    She undertook the great responsibility of project oversight and financial analysis while her coworkers deployed in support of the 2011 Mississippi River Flood. Additionally, she quickly developed a complete understanding of the complex skills required to execute the Mississippi River and Tributaries maintenance program. These are just a few of many things Program Analyst Lisa Word accomplished before retiring after 32 years of federal service.   
  • IN THE PHOTO, District Commander Col. Zachary Miller, district leadership, and the project delivery team met with the project partner, Eight Mile Drainage District of Greene County, in Arkansas, for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate a levee culvert and erosion repair project. (USACE Photo by Vance Harris)

    Final ribbon-cuttings close out two-day celebration blitz

    To close out the two-day sprint across five states, the Memphis District held two final ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Nov. 18, 2021. Both events celebrated construction projects completed in Arkansas and Missouri.