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Archive: March, 2021
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  • March

    IN THE PHOTO, a screenshot of the virtual Women’s History Month meeting held Mar. 24, 2021. Pictured is the Moderator and Memphis District Counsel and Senior Legal Officer Suzy Weil (top row, fourth from left). Also shown are (not in order) Equal Employment Opportunity Chief Donnell Wright, Rock Island District Outreach and Customer Relations Specialist Angie Freyermuth, Memphis District Mechanical Engineer Erica Thomas, Memphis District Readiness and Contingency Operations Chief Kandi Waller, Memphis District Procurement Analyst TiJuana "TJ" Harris, and Memphis District Government Purchase Card Program Coordinator Carla Wells, as well as the people that joined to listen in on the discussion. (USACE screenshot by Donnell Wright)

    Celebrating the valiant women of USACE

    "I can do anything I want to do," young Suzy Weil, now Memphis District counsel and senior legal officer said. “Now, looking back,” she said, "I never questioned that I could one day could grow up and do whatever I wanted to do. I can remember one of my father's law partners and best friend and his wife who was an attorney… and I can remember this woman who would come to my house. I would call her aunt Sherry. I just never thought it was something I could never do – becoming a lawyer." This is just one of many responses heard during the virtual meeting the Memphis District held in celebration of Women's History Month. The meeting, held on Mar. 24, 2021, featured seven of the Mississippi Valley Division's most exceptional women working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). During the meeting, with a theme aptly titled "Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced!", Memphis District Counsel and Senior Legal Officer Suzy Weil acted as both moderator and participant in a captivating one and half hour Question and Answer session.
  • In the photo to the left, Memphis District Commander Col. Zachary Miller signs the first SPOT Report using the new Smart Project Updates Dashboard. To the right are screenshots of the Smart Project Updates Dashboard, also known as SPUD.

    Revolutionizing project management

    Memphis District employees pride themselves on finding ways to revolutionize how they work. One of the more recent ways they've modernized processes comes in the form of the new Smart Project Updates Dashboard, also affectionately known as SPUD.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Division Deputies were recently in Memphis, Tennessee, for a Deputies Summit and tour of the area. As part of their tour, the group traveled to the Memphis District’s Ensley Engineer Yard to learn about the Mississippi River and Tributaries Regional Channel Improvement Program. Following their briefing, the deputies toured the Motor Vessel Mississippi, spoke with Dredge Hurley Master Adrian Pirani about the previous dredging season, visited with emergency operations staff, and then ended the tour by observing day-to-day operations at the Metals Shop, which is where much of the maintenance and repairing of our Revetment fleet and machinery take place. (USACE photos by Jessica Haas)

    USACE Division Deputies visit Memphis for Summit, Engineer Yard tour

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Division Deputies recently met in Memphis, Tennessee, for a Deputies Summit and tour of the Memphis District area. "The USACE HQ Deputy Summit enables the MSC/Centers/Labs and 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) Deputies to share lessons learned, best practices and engage key HQs staff on Enterprise challenges, policies, and processes in order to Take Care of our People, Support National Readiness, Modernize, Strengthen Partnerships, and Revolutionize Delivery," Mississippi Valley Division Deputy Division Engineer Col. Jeremy Chapman said.
  • IN THE PHOTOS, a team of mechanics, electricians, carpenters, pipefitters, HVAC technicians, and revetment workers all got together to completely renovate the Tractor Shop’s breakroom, literally from the ground up. These are the before photos of the breakroom.

    Project Makeover: Tractor Shop Breakroom

    The Memphis District's skilled tradesmen are at it again, demoing and remodeling one building at a time until they've covered every structure in need of a makeover at Ensley Engineer Yard. Recently, a team of mechanics, electricians, carpenters, pipefitters, HVAC technicians, and revetment workers all got together to completely renovate the Tractor Shop’s breakroom, literally from the ground up.
  • IN THE PHOTOS, this month, we are highlighting Carla Wells. She is a government purchase card business manager for the Contracting/Oversight Branch. Here are a few photos of her during her time as a government purchase card business manager.

    Employee Spotlight: Carla Wells

    In any business, it’s the people that make it work. Without them, organizations ultimately fail. That’s why the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District values each and every one of its employees so much. To show how much we do, we highlight one employee every month by asking a few questions about the position they’re in and how they got to where they are today. This month, we are highlighting Carla Wells. She is a government purchase card business manager for the Contracting/Oversight Branch.
  • IN THE PHOTOS, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, Maj. Gen. William (Butch) Graham and the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Army (Civil Works), Vance Stewart, visited the Memphis District last week. While there, they had the opportunity to welcome home and congratulate the Revetment Team after completing one of the district's longest seasons in history. Here, the units gather for a ‘welcome home’ brief. Additionally, representatives of each unit are coined for a job well done. (USACE photos by Vance Harris)

    Revetment Team returns after historic season

    The Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Army (Civil Works) Vance Stewart and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations Maj. Gen. William (Butch) Graham visited the Memphis District last week. While visiting, they had the opportunity to welcome home and congratulate the Revetment Team after completing one of the district's longest seasons in history.
  • IN THE PHOTOS, St. Francis Levee District Partner Rob Rash, Project Manager Jason Dickard, and Geotechnical Branch Chief Cory Williams brief USACE’s Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, Maj. Gen. William (Butch) H. Graham and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Army (Civil Works), Mr. Vance Stewart on the importance of the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project, as well as the role the St. Francis Levee District plays in that project and keeping America safe from flood events. (USACE photos by Vance Harris)

    St. Francis Levee District awarded Outstanding Maintenance Award

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, Maj. Gen. William (Butch) Graham and the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Army (Civil Works), Vance Stewart, stopped in West Memphis, Arkansas, where they were briefed by our St. Francis Levee District of Arkansas Partner Rob Rash, Memphis District Project Manager Jason Dickard, and Geotechnical Branch Chief Cory Williams on the Mississippi River Levee system.
  • IN THE PHOTO, as discussed by the Channel Improvement Team, this graphic demonstrates the future of Memphis District bank grading. The goal is to have this new dragline machine in service in fiscal year 2022. Modernization of the Bank Grading Unit and “Armor One,” a new Mat Sinking Unit (MSU), now under development by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will help recapitalize the river revetment program. Among its many assets, the new MSU promises be more efficient and cost effective, and provide a safer working environment for its crew.

    2021 Channel Improvement Team Meeting a success

    In a virtual get-together held mid-February, members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering and Construction Department, operations leaders from the Memphis, Vicksburg, and New Orleans Districts, project managers, regional team members, environmental partners, and other representatives from the St. Louis District, all came together for their annual Mississippi River Channel Improvement meeting to discuss environmental projects and other current channel improvement issues.
  • IN THE PHOTO, Memphis District Commander Col. Zachary Miller and other district leaders hosted the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Army (Civil Works), Mr. Vance Stewart, and USACE's Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, Maj. Gen. William (Butch) H. Graham, on March 11, 2021. During his tour, Graham stopped by the Grand Prairie Project to learn more about conserving groundwater resources throughout the region and is briefed by subject matter experts on the project and what is needed to complete the project, preserve groundwater, and save life, land and agriculture for many more years to come. (USACE Photo by Vance Harris)

    Maj. Gen. Graham visits notable Memphis District Grand Prairie Project

    Memphis District Commander Col. Zachary Miller and other district leaders hosted the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Army (Civil Works), Mr. Vance Stewart, and USACE's Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, Maj. Gen. William (Butch) H. Graham, on March 11, 2021. During his tour, Graham stopped by the Grand Prairie Project to learn more about conserving groundwater resources throughout the region.
  • IN THE PHOTO, A Rock Construction works to resurface the levee crown near Phillips County, Arkansas. 2019 flood damage supplemental funds funded the project.

    White River Backwater Levee Gravel Resurfacing a success

    Imagine it’s pouring rain for days on end, and you live near the Mississippi River. Not a far-fetched idea for many. With rain comes rising river waters and possible flooding. To prepare for such events, monitoring the river is essential but much harder to do if the levee surface isn’t safe for travel. That’s why projects like this one are important to the people living near and around the White River Backwater Levee.
  • IN THE PHOTOS, the Mississippi Valley, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the Mississippi Valley Division, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) all met for an event known as the Mississippi Valley Construction Roundtable, which was held in downtown Memphis, Tennessee this year on Feb. 18 and 19. This annual meeting afforded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Associated General Contractors of America an opportunity to recognize contractors and engineering staff that have exhibited outstanding safety practices in delivering USACE projects. One of these awards are pictured above. (USACE photos by Vance Harris)

    Associated General Contractors of America Event a success

    The Mississippi Valley Associated General Contractors of America (MVAGC) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) met for an event known as the Mississippi Valley Construction Roundtable, which was held in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, this year on Feb. 18 and 19. “The meeting between the Mississippi Valley Branch of the AGC and Mississippi Valley Division of the Corps of Engineers offers an opportunity for staff from the division headquarters and six districts to interact with our contracting partners who help us deliver our program,” Construction Branch Chief Jim Wolff said. “Through two key meetings (the Dredging Issues Roundtable and the Construction Specifications Session Roundtable), open communication, and frank discussion, we identify issues or problems related to dredging, construction, and contracting. These meetings offer member contractors an open forum to develop potential solutions to solve issues or problems.”
  • IN THE PHOTO, the location where the St. Francis Floodway Blockage Project will take place. Due to the remote location, personnel will have to boat in and out each day. The material will have to be floated out and excavated to a designated area nearby.

    Ready to Advertise St. Francis Floodway Project

    In partnership with the Dunklin County Levee District Number 4, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District recently met a tasker “ready to advertise” milestone, ahead of schedule, for the St. Francis Floodway Blockage Project in Cardwell, Missouri, Feb. 17, 2021. As a result of the storms and resulting flood impact in this region, sedimentation and debris built up in drainage channels reduce the capacity to drain stormwater runoff adequately. The work associated with this project will increase the channel's capacity and reduce the chances of localized flooding, threatening property damage, and life safety.