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.
Kuykendoll Cash grew up in southwest Memphis and graduated from George Washington Carver High School.
She then started her career with the Memphis District as a student hire in the summer of 1985.
“I worked three years in HR (Human Resources) as an HR Specialist before starting engineering school,” she said. “Following that, I worked seven years as a civil engineering technician in the Geospatial Branch.”
When asked what inspired her to enter this career field, Kuykendoll Cash said her cousin, Cager Swauncy, and her love for numbers and other challenges ultimately led her to the engineering field.
And her favorite thing about working in this field? “There was never a boring moment – LOL,” she replied.
Never boring is right. Her list of responsibilities was a long one and included duties such as having to serve as chief and supervisor over a number of project management teams composed of project managers, civil engineers, engineering technicians, and program analysts.
While doing so, she had the responsibility of participating in long-range planning, managing, and supervising project management work programs and staff. She was also responsible for all facets of plan formulation, reformulation, and reevaluation of individual projects and/or major river basin studies that were specified by Congress and/or the Mississippi River Commission.
Additionally, as part of the command team, she participated in the executive direction of an annual civil works program, which included (and still does) work as large and complex as flood control, groundwater conservation, and other major complex environmental restoration projects.
The list goes on and on, but we think you get the point. So how did she keep going all these years with so much responsibility? The people she mentored. She said she always tried to help and inform others, and it clearly didn’t go unnoticed.
“Regina had an excellent work ethic,” Project Controls Program Manager Lyndsey Sutton explained. “She always tried to do things following the proper procedures and regulations. She mentored several people throughout their careers, and she gave people honest feedback. She trusted experienced PMs (Project Managers) to work independently, and she helped in developing newer PMs. I was always able to have really honest conversations with her about work issues, and I think she valued my input. She always encouraged me throughout my career to take opportunities and push myself to move up in the organization.”
Sutton was one of many people Kuykendoll Cash influenced throughout her career, and now that she’s retired, she said she will miss her colleagues and the relationships built, among many other things about working for the Memphis District.
What she won’t miss? The stress -- and real clothes.
Kuykendoll Cash is from a family of dedicated workers, and credits her parents, including her 101-year-old mother, her husband, two sisters, and one brother here in Memphis for her work ethic.
Now that she’s retired, she hopes to travel more (once the pandemic is under control) and continue helping others.
Finally, she wanted to acknowledge Physical Support Branch Chief Lawrence ‘LT’ Thomas, saying, “I would like to thank Lawrence Thomas for ALL the support throughout my career. He has a rewarding career ahead of him. I'm so proud of him!”
Congratulations again to Regina Kuykendoll Cash and many, many thanks to her for her dedicated service to our nation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mission.