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Author: Jessica Haas, Public Affairs Specialist
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  • January

    IN THE PHOTOS, Project Management Branch Chief Regina Kuykendoll Cash (left photo, center in right photo) retired from the Memphis District after serving 35 years of federal service. Congratulations and many, many thanks to her for her dedicated service to our nation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mission.

    A look back: Kuykendoll Cash’s 35 years of service

    Congratulations to Project Management Branch Chief Regina Kuykendoll Cash, who retired from the Memphis District after serving about 35 years of federal service. To celebrate her, we take a look back at her many years of service and recognize her for most everything she’s done, not just for the Memphis District, but also for our Nation.
  • The 55th Chief of Engineers, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, and the 14th Command Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major Patrickson Toussaint, visited the Memphis District last week to better understand some of the ways the district is supporting the USACE Civil Works mission. (USACE photos by Vance Harris)

    The 55th Chief of Engineers visits the Memphis District

    The 55th Chief of Engineers, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, and the 14th Command Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major Patrickson Toussaint, visited the Memphis District last week to better understand some of the ways the district supports the USACE Civil Works mission.

  • December

    IN THE PHOTO, dry dock 5801 after it was serviced in Morgan City, Louisiana and back at Ensley Engineer Yard in Memphis, Tennessee. The dry dock was shipped to the Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana for repairs and maintenance in June 2019. The dock has been operating since 1958. (USACE photos by Jessica Haas)

    Memphis dry dock back in action

    The largest dry dock north of New Orleans, Louisiana, is back in action at the Memphis District's Ensley Engineer Yard after spending 14 months in Morgan City, Louisiana. The Memphis District dry dock, known as ‘5801', was shipped to the Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana for repairs and maintenance in June 2019. The dock has been operating since 1958.
  • IN THE PHOTO, the Dredge Hurley is docked at Ensley Engineer Yard for some much-needed repairs and the crew is now home for some rest and recuperation after another long but successful season of dredging the Mississippi River. Adrian Pirani, Dredge Hurley master, said the crew successfully removed a little more than 8 million cubic yards of sediment this season. The season was shorter than last year due to the Hurley needing maintenance done, which required the Hurley be placed on a larger dry dock down south for a few months earlier this year. (USACE photos by Jessica Haas)

    Hurley docked after another successful dredging season

    After almost eight months of dredging the Mississippi River, the Dredge Hurley and crew are now home where the Hurley is docked at Ensley Engineer Yard for some much-needed repairs and maintenance.

  • November

    IN THE PHOTO, picture of the Zoom presentation Outreach Coordinator Brian Schneider held with University of Memphis students. This is one of several presentations Schneider has conducted as he has as true passion for giving back to the community and helping others when they need it most. (Courtesy photo)

    Giving back where it matters most

    According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the percentage of Americans without work skyrocketed from a little over 4 percent to a full-blown 14 percent between March and April this year. While that number has dwindled down in percentage points from month to month, it's still nowhere near where we were before our country was hit with COVID-19 and consequently suffered a significant collapse in the job market. This is part of what motivated U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District's Brian Schneider. Schneider is the district's Outreach Coordinator and has been with the Memphis District for just over a year. As his title suggests, he's passionate about reaching out, and that's just what he did when this opportunity presented itself.
  • IN THE PHOTOS, Ensley Engineer Yard Shops Unit Chief Marvin Roddy and his son, Pumping Plant Project Manager Marsalis Roddy together outside of work and at work at Marvin’s Soybean farm. They also work together for the Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This father and son pair are probably a duo many fathers and sons try to emulate, especially if they work together like the Roddy’s do. (Courtesy photos)

    A USACE father, son built strong

    Children often want to make their fathers proud, and an involved father promotes inner growth and strength. Studies have shown that when fathers are affectionate and supportive, it mostly affects a child's development. It also instills an overall sense of well-being and self-confidence in the child over time. After speaking with a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers father/son duo, the evidence is clear; this father was absolutely present in his son's life. And in turn, both father and son reap the benefits while working together at the Memphis District Ensley Engineer Yard (EEY).

  • October

    IN THE PHOTO, members of the Infrastructure Assessment Planning and Response Team assess an area damaged by Hurricane Laura in southwestern Louisiana. The Corps evaluated a total of 52 fire stations, 53 water and wastewater facilities, and one hospital while deployed to Louisiana. (Courtesy photo)

    USACE supports storm survivors with safe structures

    Responding to disasters is one of several missions the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is tasked with. Part of answering this call is through specialized teams that go out and conduct infrastructure assessments in disaster areas. "On Aug. 29, the Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed an Infrastructure Assessment Planning and Response Team (PRT) management cell to Louisiana," Infrastructure Assessment Action Officer Doug Weber said. "When I first started on the Infrastructure Assessment team, I thought it was all about placarding peoples’ homes for safety, " Mission Specialist Adrienne Murphy said. "But in our last two deployments, we’ve been asked to perform inspections of drinking water systems, wastewater systems, and public facilities like hospitals and fire stations."
  • IN THE PHOTOS, Memphis District employees gather for a memorial earlier today at the Clifford-Davis Odell Horton Federal Building to honor and remember seven teammates, who to many of us were family, that we unfortunately lost over the last year. All seven have been and will be dearly missed. The District Commander, Corps Chaplain, Physical Support Branch Chief Lawrence “LT” Thomas, and Operations Division Chief Russell Davis III spoke words of solace and encouragement during this time where we are all experiencing a rollercoaster ride of emotions. (USACE photos by Jessica Haas)

    Remembering our Memphis District brothers and sister

    Members of the Memphis District gathered for a memorial yesterday morning at the Clifford-Davis Odell Horton Federal Building to honor and remember seven teammates, who to many of us were family, that we unfortunately lost over the last year. An additional ceremony was held later in the day at the Ensley Engineer Yard to dedicate a newly planted tree to those seven fallen teammates. The tree was planted to replace the first commemorative tree, dedicated to all deceased U.S. Army Corps of Engineers members who had served proudly. That tree had 'lived it's given life' and was unfortunately uprooted during a strong storm in years past.

  • September

    Drone operators from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineering Research and Development Center, or ERDC, in Vicksburg, Miss., deploy forward to southwest Louisiana mid-Sept. 2020 in support of Operation Blue Roof for Hurricane Laura response. Charles McKenzie, left, and Michael Baker operate a drone in Sulfur, La., Sept. 20. On the front end of the Blue Roof mission, drones can be used to help our staff assess homes to determine eligibility for the program. On the back end, they help our quality assurance specialists verify the fiber reinforced sheeting was installed per contract specifications.

    Blue Roof recipients witness USACE innovation

    Innovating and improving processes are what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers do, especially when it comes to hurricane recovery operations. So when it came time to respond to a Hurricane like Laura, the Corps came ready to deliver temporary roofing with an upgraded Blue Roof Program.
  • IN THE COLLAGE, photos of southwest Louisiana homeowner and blue roof recipient Brennon Williams and his home both before and after the blue roof installation. Williams’ home was one of 3,730 to receive a blue roof during Hurricane Laura recovery efforts. (Courtesy photos)

    Corps, Samaritan's Purse go above and beyond for Laura survivor

    "The day I met Mr. Williams, I was looking for his house and drove past it because I didn't see it; all I saw were trees," Roofing Quality Assurance Specialist George Hayes recalled. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting anyone to be home. So many folks evacuated after the storm, I just figured no one was home. As I got closer to the door, I heard his little dog bark. I yelled, "Is anyone home?" and I saw a movement through the window. The door opened, and he drove his wheelchair out onto the front porch. My heart just sank." At that moment, Hayes knew he needed to go above and beyond to help this man.
  • IN THE PHOTO, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors install a generator at one of several facilities requesting temporary power after Hurricane Laura damaged their installation. The temporary power mission is one of the Corps' primary missions in supporting Louisiana's recovery from Hurricane Laura. (Courtesy photo)

    USACE provides power to hard-hit Louisiana

    Living in the 21st century, most Americans have electricity on demand. When it isn’t working, it usually doesn’t take longer than a day to get it turned back on. But what happens when a storm like Hurricane Laura hits? Close to 200,000 residents living in southwestern Louisiana lost power on Aug. 27. Many of them are still without it, weeks after the storm has come and gone. Delivering power to southwest Louisiana is one of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' top priorities. USACE is installing generators in several critical facilities like water pump stations, sewage lift stations, hospitals, radio towers, and corrections facilities, to name a few. The 23-person team responsible for installing these generators ensured they were in Louisiana before Hurricane Laura even made landfall.
  • (IN THE PHOTO) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Contractors install temporary generators at one of the sites requested by the state of Louisiana. Emergency power installation is one of the Corps’ primary missions during emergency recovery operations, in addition to supporting the temporary housing mission, providing temporary roofing and conducting infrastructure assessments. (USACE photos by Royalle Woods)

    Corps of Engineers fully engaged in LA Hurricane recovery efforts

    When Hurricane Laura struck Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) response and recovery teams were already in place to execute the critical mission assignments assigned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Damages sustained in southwestern Louisiana warrant USACE expertise. Mission assignments range from temporary roofing and emergency power installation to supporting the temporary housing mission and conducting infrastructure assessments and providing debris removal technical assistance to the state.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors in Lake Charles, Louisiana, installed reinforced plastic sheeting today, Sept. 5, for the first home to benefit from Operation Blue Roof since Hurricane Laura. The program, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency, reduces further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. This is a free service to homeowners. Parties affected by Hurricane Laura are encouraged to submit a Right-of-Entry application. To learn more about Operation Blue Roof and to apply, visit: https://www.usace.army.mil/BlueRoof/ (USACE Photos by Jessica Haas)

    First temporary ‘Blue Roof’ a success

    “The governor happened to have a news conference and my wife said, well what about the blue roofs?” Duhon said. “She gave me the information and I got online and registered and here we are today.” The purpose of the program is to provide homeowners in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover damaged roofs until permanent repairs can be made. The deadline to sign up for the Blue Roof Program is Sept. 21. Don't wait!

  • August

    Members of our Emergency Power Planning and Response Team pose for a quick picture before getting to work. The Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deployed an Emergency Power Planning and Response Team (PRT) to support FEMA's Hurricane Laura relief efforts, Aug 26.

    Memphis Team deployed to Louisiana in support of Hurricane Laura relief efforts

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District deployed a 13-member Emergency Power Planning and Response Team (PRT) to support Federal Emergency Management Agency's Hurricane Laura response, on Aug 26.
  • IN THE PHOTOS, Dredge Hurley Ship Keeper Curtis Williams a.k.a. “Lil Wolf” as a child all the way up to his time working on the dredges Burgess and Hurley.

    A look back: Williams' 30+ years of service

    "If you walk around this vessel, chances are you will find him working somewhere around here, even when he is off the watch," Dredge Hurley Assistant Master Tim Tucker said. "We sometimes have to make him stop to go to his room to relax after a long day. If some of the kids coming out of high school these days would show up with half of the work ethic that he has, we would really get a lot more done." Tucker is describing Curtis Williams, who is also known by many on the dredge as "Lil Wolf". Williams is the Dredge Hurley's ship keeper and has been with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a little more than 30 years.
  • .

    Critical drainage channels to be maintained

    Throughout its history, the Lower Mississippi River Flood Plain has been besieged by floodwaters; that’s why flood risk management is one of the Memphis District's major mission areas. We serve as the first line of defense for the entire lower Valley. Working to execute this mission and serving as that first line of defense, a Memphis District Project Delivery Team awarded three major contracts to perform maintenance on drainage channels 1 and 251, which are located in the Little River Drainage District in Southeast Missouri. The contracts are for lower Ditch 251, upper Ditch 251, and upper Ditch 1 and authorize contractors to go in and return a total of 89 miles worth of drainage channels to their authorized level of flood protection.
  • .

    A look back: Hamilton’s 35 years of service

    Hamilton was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957, and later adopted by his parents at the young age of six months. "I grew up here in Wynne, where the (USACE) Area Office is located (and now where he works)," he said. "And I graduated from Arkansas State University in 1982."
  • .

    Contract awarded for Old Town Seepage Remediation project

    Congratulations to the Old Town Seepage Remediation Project Delivery Team on reaching their Contract Award Milestone for their project located in Arkansas and Cotton Belt Levee District Number One. The project team awarded the $5,042,556 contract to the Sytes Corporation. The project involves extending the existing seepage remediation berm. The slated begin date for construction is Oct. 16 this year, with a tentative completion date of April 2023.

  • July

    (USACE Photo/Jessica Haas)

    Bank Grading Unit paves way for commerce, safety

    Memphis District Commander Col. Zachary Miller recently visited Island 68, a project site in Arkansas, where he met with the district’s hardworking Bank Grading Unit and reviewed progress made at the site thus far. According to Project Manager and River/Civil Engineer Cole Stonebrook, we have done work here before as this area is particularly erosive and scours easily in moving water. “The soils in the area are very unstable and highly erosive,” he said. “We are addressing a large bank failure by grading irregularities in the bank alignment to a smooth straight alignment. The Grading Unit is grading the banks to a one on four slope,  which requires moving 220,000 cubic yards of material.”
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    Providing solutions worldwide

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ vision is, “Engineering solutions for our Nation’s toughest challenges.” Not only does this vision relate to challenges here in the United States, but it applies to those encountered all over the world. Part of working toward that vision asks our employees to deploy and sometimes work for and with other agencies overseas. Recently, two members of the Memphis District volunteered to do just that.