13 Jun 2022

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.”

2 Jun 2022

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.

27 May 2022

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. 

20 May 2022

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.

16 May 2022

Completed Below Island 9 Project to benefit navigation industry, public

Congratulations to the Memphis District Below Island 9 Project Delivery Team for achieving total project completion on May 6, 2022. The project area, located in Lake County, Tennessee, was identified as a low water problem spot by local partners in the navigation industry. This area has been dredged by the Memphis District’s Dredge Hurley in 2020 and 2021, yet the problem spot persisted. To come up with a long term solve, a project delivery team came together to complete a dike construction project.

5 May 2022

Dredge Hurley kicks off 2022 season

“We dredge to maintain these waterways and keep it open for commerce,” Dredge Hurley First Mate Kyle Collins said. “Millions of dollars’ worth of various commodities are transported up and down, and east to west, along these routes, and dredging keeps these lanes open and prevents closures along these trade routes.” On Apr. 26, the Dredge Hurley and crew (currently 37 people total) departed its home port, Ensley Engineer Yard, for the 2022 dredging season. Their mission: To maintain navigable shipping lanes along the western rivers and inland waterways. 

5 May 2022

A look back: Norman “Chip” Newman’s 42 years of service

It all began in February of 1980, when the Memphis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hired a young, energetic Memphis State University graduate. After spending some time as an intern, followed by a few years in the Inspections Section, this civil engineering major had decided to officially begin his 42-year-long career in the Geotechnical Engineering Branch. Fast forward to May of 2022, and that young man is now a newly retired (and already sorely missed) Geotechnical Design Section Supervisor, Mr.  Norman ‘Chip’ Newman!

29 Apr 2022

Employee Spotlight: Memphis District Administrative Professionals

Administrative Professionals are detail-oriented, organized, proactive, independent, adaptive, diligent, and maybe most importantly, they know how to handle a good amount of stress. As Engineering and Construction Administrative Specialist Tami Jacobs put it, “Without this one person, a whole lot of things do not, and would not get done, period.” We appreciate them daily, but today (April 27, 2022) is the designated “National Administrative Professionals’ Day!” So, please make sure you thank your admin pro a few more times than you usually would (like, 20 times more, at least).

22 Apr 2022

Employee Spotlight: Biologist John "Mike" Thron

Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22, and serves as a reminder to protect the environment, restore damaged ecosystems, and live a more sustainable life. Protecting the environment is a key district initiative, and fortunately for us, we have Biologist John “Mike” Thron as our environmental champion.

3 Apr 2022

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.