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  • August

    Critical Eastern Arkansas groundwater security projects underway

    Critical Eastern Arkansas groundwater security projects underway

    Groundwater is a renewable source that’s tapped through wells placed in water-bearing soil and rock beneath the Earth’s surface. However, in some locations, such as the Eastern Arkansas Region, the rate of groundwater use far exceeds the replenishment rate, which creates a serious problem. Groundwater from the Alluvial and Sparta Aquifers is the Eastern Arkansas Region’s lifeblood, providing high quality drinking water and essentially all the water used for agricultural irrigation and fish farming. The aquifers’ loss would devastate the region’s economic conditions, national rice production, regional drinking water supply, and have far reaching impacts on food security. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has two large-scale groundwater security projects under construction designed to address this serious problem. The Grand Prairie Region Project led by USACE Memphis District Project Manager Billy Grantham, P.E., and Bayou Meto Basin Project led by USACE Memphis District Project Manager Jill Kelley, P.E. will both deliver river water to farmers for irrigation and reduce their use of groundwater from the Alluvial and Sparta aquifers.

  • July

    IN THE PHOTO – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Headquarters Engineering and Construction Division announced in June that Pictured is Nicholas "Nikko" Aleman, Memphis District (MVM) geotechnical section chief . He is the recipient of this year's Timothy Skeen Geotechnics Professional of the Year award, the highest honor a USACE geotechnics professional can receive. The Timothy Skeen Geotechnics Professional of the Year award recognizes one USACE geotechnics professional who has demonstrated the highest professionalism and commitment to advancing the Geotechnical, Geology, and Materials Community of Practice (GG&M COP). (USACE photo by Visual Information Specialist Vance Harris)

    Memphis District section chief named 2024 Geotechnics Professional of the Year

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Headquarters Engineering and Construction Division announced in June that Nicholas "Nikko" Aleman, the Geotechnical Section Chief for the Memphis District (MVM), is the recipient of this year's Timothy Skeen Geotechnics Professional of the Year award.
  • IN THE PHOTO, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District promoted Shane Callahan, pictured above, to the engineering and construction division chief role. In this role, he is responsible for flood risk management, engineering and construction, navigation, ecosystem restoration, and water supply projects within the Memphis District's boundaries, including portions of Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. (USACE photo by VI Specialist Vance Harris)

    Memphis District appoints new engineering and construction division chief

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District promoted Shane Callahan to the engineering and construction division chief role. In this role, he is responsible for flood risk management, engineering and construction, navigation, ecosystem restoration, and water supply projects within the Memphis District's boundaries, including portions of Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky.

  • May

    With the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Memphis District hosting the most recent in-person conference, the entire team of Deputy District Engineers for Programs and Project Management (DPMs) traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, where they met for their semi-annual DPM Forum, which began April 30 and concluded on May 2.  The forum’s primary responsibilities are to influence and inform policy and to provide senior leadership with recommendations and actions for improvement for implementing enterprise wide. The DPM Forum was established in 2015 after USACE Senior Leaders recognized the need for a senior leader body to act as voice for the workforce. It was also crucial that this body have a level of continuity and a real-time field perspective at the district level. The forum has achieved many great milestones since its inception, some of which include creating a TEAMS site to facilitate regular, year-round communication and collaboration, and establishing another online meeting space called "Happy Hour" where DPMs can share best practices, advance networking opportunities, and elevate any problems and/or solutions within their community of practice. With an online worksite like TEAMS ensuring teamwork all year long, the DPM Forum supplements their virtual productivity with semi-annual, face-to-face meetings as well. These meeting are reserved for tackling the past year's challenges and developing strategies to best move the organization forward.

    DPM Forum paves way for one united USACE team

    With the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Memphis District hosting the most recent DPM Forum meeting, Deputy District Engineers for Programs and Project Management (DPMs) enterprise-wide traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, where they gathered for their first semi-annual meeting of the year, which started April 30 and ended May 2.  "The DPM Forum provides a venue for all district senior civilians to share valued lessons learned, identify and discuss the challenges we face, and influence policy and processes charting the future of the Programs and Project Management community of practice," said Stacey Hirata, DPM Forum Senior Executive Leader and USACE/HQ Military Programs Director for the Programs Integration Division. The forum’s primary responsibilities are to influence and inform policy and to provide senior leadership with recommendations and actions for improvement for implementing enterprise wide. The DPM Forum was established in 2015 after USACE Senior Leaders recognized the need for a senior leader body to act as voice for the workforce. It was also crucial that this body have a level of continuity and a real-time field perspective at the district level.
  • Selected after the review of all applications submitted, Metals Unit Leaderman Joey Cabay will advance to the headquarters level as the single Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) nominee for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Headquarters Operations and Maintenance Castle Award. The esteemed Operations and Maintenance Castle Award is awarded to one USACE Civil Works employee with a history of outstanding performance in operations and maintenance support. Applicants are evaluated for their technical skill, customer service, innovation, safety, and self-development. Since his start with USACE in 2018, Cabay has become a master welder and leaderman, conquered the art of customer service, and is committed to advancing his craft through continued training and thinking outside the box. Adding to his technical education, Cabay has also completed several self-development courses, including the Memphis District Leadership Development Program and the Mississippi Valley Division Emerging Enterprise Leader Program. Finally, Cabay prioritizes workplace safety above all else, and dedicates significant time and energy to this program as a collateral duty safety officer.

    Excellence in Operations, Maintenance Support | MVD nominates Cabay for HQUSACE Castle Award

    Selected after the review of all applications submitted, Metals Unit Leaderman Joey Cabay will advance to the headquarters level as the single Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) nominee for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Headquarters Operations and Maintenance Castle Award. The esteemed Operations and Maintenance Castle Award is awarded to one USACE Civil Works employee with a history of outstanding performance in operations and maintenance support. Applicants are evaluated for their technical skill, customer service, innovation, safety, and self-development.