Corps senior civilian awarded state’s highest honor

Lisa Metheney, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District’s senior civilian was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Gov. Henry McMaster for her dedication and commitment to the state of South Carolina as displayed in Charleston Harbor Post 45 Deepening Project.  The Order of the Palmetto is the state’s highest civilian honor awarded to a citizen for extraordinary lifetime service and achievements of a national or statewide significance.

“Without Metheney’ s effective leadership, guidance and expertise over the past seven years, it is very likely that one or more of the numerous risk for significant delay would have come to pass and this important national project would not be starting physical construction now ,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, commander, Charleston District. “Her passion and skill for proactively identifying potential issues of this project and working solutions up front enabled the District to meet the needs of the sponsor, South Carolina Ports Authority, and the state. She has helped shape the economic landscape of South Carolina for future generations.”

This project was the first large navigation project to go from start to finish under the Corps’ new streamlined planning process, reducing the cost and time to complete a feasibility study. The study was done in less than four years and for less than original $12 million budgeted, a few years ago the Corps would have thought this was impossible. Metheney’ s leadership in the $529 million project to address the transportation inefficiencies in the Charleston Harbor is a clear example of her passion about delivering world class solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges.

The award was presented to her by Lt.  Gen. Todd Semonite, chief of engineers.  Her contributions to the state go way beyond the Post 45 Harbor Deepening project. Her dedication and work on the District’s storm damage reduction projects on Folly Beach and Myrtle Beach, the dredging of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Charleston Harbor annual maintenance dredging, which saves taxpayers over $18 million a year, and the Lake Marion Regional Water Supply construction, which brings potable water to an underdeveloped area, will be felt by South Carolinians for many years to come.