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Employee Spotlight: Work for Others Technical Manager Jordan Bledsoe

Published June 2, 2022
Employee Spotlight: Work for Others Technical Manager Jordan Bledsoe

Employee Spotlight: Work for Others Technical Manager Jordan Bledsoe

Employee Spotlight: Work for Others Technical Manager Jordan Bledsoe

Employee Spotlight: Work for Others Technical Manager Jordan Bledsoe

Employee Spotlight: Work for Others Technical Manager Jordan Bledsoe

Employee Spotlight: Work for Others Technical Manager Jordan Bledsoe

Employee Spotlight: Work for Others Technical Manager Jordan Bledsoe

Employee Spotlight: Work for Others Technical Manager Jordan Bledsoe

“My grandfather had always said, ‘Get a job with the Corps’. That wasn’t always the goal, but funny to see how it worked out,” Jordan Bledsoe said.

Bledsoe’s grandfather knew what he was talking about too, because he “actually built some of the levees in the St. Francis Basin, ultimately leading to the Huxtable Pumping Station.”

Jordan Bledsoe didn’t know it at the time, but his grandfather had planted the seed that would eventually lead to his becoming the Engineering and Construction’s Work for Others (WFO) Technical Manager that he is today.

Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Bledsoe graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Civil Engineering.

From then and up until he came to work for the Memphis District in 2013, he worked as a party chief for M&H Construction, became a licensed engineer at Reeves Firm, and coordinated the planning and design of various state and federal projects with Smith, Seckman, and Reid (SSR).

“While working for SSR (2011-2013), I worked almost exclusively on design-build projects in Afghanistan, which gave me an understanding of the (USACE) organization and processes,” he added.

Before his current position, Bledsoe served as a senior civil engineer on several WFO projects from 2013-2017.

“I officially accepted the WFO position in January of 2020,” he said. “I completed a 120-day developmental assignment in the position in 2019 and have supported the position since 2017.”

As an WFO manager, Bledsoe is responsible for the execution aspect of assigned projects, directing and coordinating the overall engineering oversight and technical work. He’s also the primary point of contact for project managers, engineers, and clients from other districts and branches of the government. 

“Our ‘Work for Others’ projects deliver exceptional results while helping to diversify the program,” he explained. “Additionally, our WFO projects deliver flood risk management and other authorized civil works to benefit the Nation.”

While the entire Work for Others program is vital to the district’s mission, Bledsoe said the most central aspect of his job is to ‘facilitate, mediate, and elevate’.

Referring to the most important part of the program, Bledsoe said, “In the words of Matt Turner, ‘Facilitate the project design, mediate any conflicts, then elevate when critical. We often have many great ideas within the Project Delivery Team but have to decide collectively on one approach.”

For example, in client management, Bledsoe tells clients that the goal is to be open and honest about the district’s capability and capacity.

“We want them to be happy with our product and schedule so they will continue to come to us for engineering solutions,” he added.

As much as the district cares about client management, most everyone also has a genuine concern for their fellow employee, which is one of the many reasons people like working for the Memphis District.

“Most everyone is a team player and understands the common goal of delivering the project/mission,” Bledsoe said. “I have friends, not just co-workers. I (also) like developing new relationships with other USACE districts, sponsors and Federal agencies. We support some cool projects all over the world.”

And when it comes to how far he’s come in his career, Bledsoe recognizes the mentors, peers, and supervisors who’ve been who’ve helped him out along the way.

“Joe Tomasello was my first engineering boss and I still have some habits he instilled in me,” Bledsoe said. “Several USACE peers and supervisors have also invested in me and made me a better engineer/employee/supervisor.”

Finally, Bledsoe wanted to thank Cory Winder in Vicksburg, saying, “Without him taking the time to explain the usajob.gov process, I would not be working for the Memphis District.”

Bledsoe also expressed gratitude for Ed Dean and Bill Snapp, thanking them for “…being rays of sunshine on cloudy days.”

All this thanking serves as a great segue to hear from someone who not only has a lot of experience working with Bledsoe in the office, but also knows what it’s like ‘working’ with him over a barbeque pit. 

“I have had a lot of fun getting to know Jordan over the past few years here at the Corps,” Outreach Coordinator and fellow Castle Cooker Brian Schneider said. “In addition to being an exceptional pit master for our district’s barbecue team, he’s an honest, salt of the earth kind of guy who I enjoy being around. I seem to learn something new every time we get together to hang out, which usually involves barbecue or grilling.”

Schneider said that whether their conversations are about adding spices to competition ribs, navigating the world of automobile auctions, or even developing the right approach to restoring grid power in Puerto Rico after a disaster, Bledsoe is “well-healed in a wide variety of topics.”

“I especially enjoy the rhythm of his personality, which is even-keeled, patient, and steadily productive,” Schneider added. “Blessed with both book smarts and street savvy, he’s often two steps ahead of others in the room, which makes being his colleague that much more enjoyable.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Bledsoe is not only valued as a Memphis District employee, but appreciated as a person, peer, leader, friend, and last but certainly not least, one heck of a skilled “barbequeman” (yes, we made that up).

Thank you, Jordan, for all you do and have done for the district. Your dedication, hard work, and expertise are vital to the continued success of the district, and we appreciate all you do.