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Tag: Memphis District
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  • July

    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

    USACE Memphis christens replacement, $25.5M bank grading unit "Grader 1"

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District officially launched its new, $25.5 million Bank Grading Unit (BGU), “Grader 1”, with a christening ceremony held on the afternoon of May 2 at a boat ramp located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. Event attendees included Mississippi Valley Division Commander Maj. Gen. Diana Holland, Memphis District Commander Col. Brian Sawser, Grader 1's project delivery team and project partners, and several members from the Memphis District Employee and Retiree Communities. Vessel christenings are widely considered an important part of nautical culture with many associated customs practiced for centuries now. While variations do exist, the overall purpose is to request protection for the vessel and crew while navigating the waterways of the world.
  • A look back: Berry's 33 years of federal service

    Knowledgeable. Caring. An asset. Kindhearted. Selfless. Friend. Guru. A bright light. Trustworthy. These are words chosen to describe colleague, friend, and recently retired Program Assistant, Mr. Jeff Berry. Even with solid attempts made at convincing him to stay, Berry celebrated his retirement of 33 years of federal service in a ceremony surrounded by friends, family, and colleagues.
  • January

    Memphis District employee helps rescue mother, three daughters

    Mr. Shaun Bass, a Construction Control Inspector from the Memphis District's Caruthersville Area Office, witnessed a horrific car accident occur right in front of him while travelling for work in July of 2022. The accident involved a mother and her three children driving head on into a bridge embankment. He was able to call 911 and tend to the mother before the first ambulance arrived. Once the first ambulance was onsite, he directed traffic around the accident while assisting paramedics with the children as needed. Amazingly, the mother and three children survived, yet arguably, if it were not for Bass and the ambulance personnel, this story may have had a much more tragic conclusion. This is his recollection of that day's events.
  • $5.3M BIL-funded revetment project complete ahead of schedule

    A Memphis District Project Delivery Team recently completed a $5.3M Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)-funded revetment project in Bauxippi-Wyanoke, Arkansas. Work began in November last year when historic low water conditions and tow restrictions delayed much of the river industry’s transportation of goods. Despite these less-than-stellar conditions, the team completed construction ahead of schedule, finishing all work on Dec. 16, 2022.
  • Congratulations, Thank You, Mr. Jeff Berry!

    The holidays weren’t the only reason the district celebrated the end of 2022. Additionally, Memphis District Commander Col. Brian Sawser recognized, thanked, and presented a Commander’s Coin and a Length of Service Certificate to our Program Assistant Jeff Berry for his incredible 30+ years of federal service. Please help us say congratulations and thank you to Mr. Jeff Berry! We value and appreciate all you’ve done and continue to do for the District, the Mississippi Valley Division, and this great Nation! People like you are why the Memphis District Team is the best team there is, and we are lucky to have you!
  • LDP grads on program: Making connections, overcoming obstacles, coming out stronger

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District invests in employees and develops their leadership skills by utilizing the Leadership Development Program (LDP). LDP graduates are said to benefit from an expanded network of mentors, elevated promotion potential, and a greater understanding of the enterprise and district (to name a few). Having more mentors and a better chance at promotion is nice, but according to the class of 2022, these perks are barely a fraction of what participants can get out of this yearlong program.
  • December

    Employee of the Month: Congrats, Tommy!

    Congratulations to Machinist Tommy Reed on his selection as the November Memphis District Employee of the Month!
  • October

    Congrats and Thank You, Joanna!

    Permit Manager Joanna Neu identified a need to strengthen site visit accountability procedures. After getting the Regulatory Team's buy-in, she followed through with formally instructing the staff on the newly created accountability processes. The regulatory team has been accident free for the past five fiscal years, and with Joanna's leadership, they're on target for another year free of any safety incidents, making their office accident-free for a total of six years.
  • September

    Memphis District Trailblazers: Leading with style, humility, to make change

    All Memphis District leaders are exceptional, but these women set the standard. Perhaps it's because their leadership styles are relationship-based, or maybe it's their strength and resiliency. It could also be that when they're wrong, they willingly admit it and do so gracefully. All these traits are fantastic, but their vested interest in employees sets them over the top because leadership is about taking care of people, and that’s what these leaders do every single day. In this second article of the series, Operations Division Chief Andrea Williams and District Counsel Suzy Weil discuss their leadership styles, benefits of women in leadership, and resiliency in difficult times.
  • August

    Lead Realty Specialist Joshua A. Neisen receives Level I Real Estate Contracting Officers Delegation of Authority

    Congratulations to Lead Realty Specialist Joshua A. Neisen as he receives his Level I Real Estate Contracting Officers Delegation of Authority. Delegating this authority, Real Estate Division Chief John T. Wilburn issued a memorandum stating, "I hereby delegate to Mr. Joshua Neisen, Lead Realty Specialist, Memphis District, Mississippi Valley Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Real Estate Contracting Officer authority within the limits established by this warrant and certificate of appointment to execute real estate contracts, deeds, and related documents to acquire, manage, out-grant, and dispose of real property and interests therein, including related personal property, for both military and civil works real property (under authorities granted to the Secretary of the Army by applicable sections of Title 10, Title 16, Title 30, Title 33, and Title 40, United States Code). This delegation serves as an interim measure to meet current mission requirements of the Memphis District Real Estate office until such time that the Real Estate office may be re-organized with branch chief positions to serve as Realty Officers." Additionally, the Real Estate Branch extended its appreciation to Mr. Donald Balch (MVD Chief of Real Estate) for his continued support to the Memphis District Real Estate Program.
  • $1.8M contract awarded, add’ l protection for agriculture, communities

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District recently awarded a construction contract for a Seepage Remediation Project in Coahoma County, Sherard, Mississippi. The project will be accomplished in partnership with the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board of Mississippi and will address four miles of the Yazoo-Delta Levee system’s System 21 – Segment 26.
  • July

    A look back: Don Davenport’s 40 years of Service

    After 40 years of federal service working as an engineer with the Memphis District, Mr. Don Davenport is trying out another way of life: retirement. Congratulations to Mr. Davenport on concluding an extraordinary career – one with too many milestones to name, and several friendships made that are sure to last a lifetime.
  • June

    Keeping the river open for business, dredging contract awarded

    The Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for keeping the Mississippi River open for commercial navigation year-round. One way the district does this is through contract dredging, which keeps the river channel at a depth that allows the river barge industry to dependably transport goods up and down the river. Ensuring the district delivers on this charge, the Memphis District recently awarded a contract in the amount of $7,335,450 to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, LLC for the rental of a 24-inch hydraulic cutterhead dredge, discharge pipe, and attendant plant. The contract was awarded June 2, 2022, with an anticipated completion date of Feb. 28, 2023.
  • Army Dive Team restores vital district asset

    “The highest risk and resource-intensive Mission Essential Task (MET) we collectively train on is port opening and harbor clearance,” 511th Engineer Dive Detachment Commander Cpt. Olivia Schretzman said. “If we do not provide accurate infrastructure assessments, open ports, repair bridge sections, or clear obstacles in inland waterways, we negatively impact all sustainment and maneuver operations. It is a no-fail mission.” Schretzman commands the 511th Engineer Dive Detachment, a 25-Soldier team that deploys worldwide, performing complex and dangerous engineer tasks at depths of up to 190 feet. Schretzman explained that simulating a damaged bridge is a difficult task, so when the Memphis District reached out for assistance, both parties would benefit from the job. “The Ensley Engineer Yard had a partially sunken bridge that needed repairs, and we needed high-intensity port opening training,” Schretzman said. “This operation became known as Operation Mississippi Freedom.”
  • May

    Carpenter Crowther promoted to Project Management Branch Project Manager Supervisor

    Congratulations to Ms. Andrea Carpenter Crowther on her promotion to the Project Manager Supervisor position (Planning Team) in the Project Management Branch. 
  • Castle Cookers serve up fellowship, camaraderie with BBQ at Memphis in May

    The Memphis District has been competing in this barbeque contest for years, with the Castle Cookers first participating in the WCBCC in 1991 as the Pork Barrel Barbecuers. This year made year 31, with the team for the Memphis District Corps of Engineers comprising of workers from all parts of the district. “We’re a ‘for us by us’ team, which plans, fundraises, cooks, serves, and competes in the Memphis in May (MIM) event every year,” Outreach Coordinator Brian Schneider explained.
  • April

    NOTICE OF PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District (USACE) and the West Tennessee River Basin Authority (WTRBA) will host a general scoping meeting to solicit comments and information from the public regarding the Running Reelfoot Bayou, TN feasibility study. The study investigates National Ecosystem Restoration benefits related to restoring aquatic and floodplain habitat along the Running Reelfoot Bayou in Lake, Obion, and Dyer Counties, Tennessee. The meeting will be held on Thursday April 21, 2022, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Lake County Circuit Court in Tiptonville, TN.
  • Memphis District’s new Operations Division Chief Andrea Williams

    Congratulations to Andrea Williams on her selection as the new Operations Division’s (OD) Chief!  Williams has served in the OD Chief position on temporary assignment since January.   
  • Rep. Jason Smith, Mississippi River Commission celebrate groundbreaking of new Caruthersville Floodwall

    The Memphis District held a groundbreaking ceremony in Caruthersville, Missouri, April 3, 2022, to celebrate a federally funded project to replace the Caruthersville Mississippi River floodwall. The new floodwall will enhance the safety of more than 135,000 residents, $6.28 billion of property, and $7.5 billion of agriculture.