NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 20, 2026) – When Connie Flatt began her federal career, “clouds” were just weather patterns on the Cumberland River and “data” existed in ink-stained ledgers. Over a 46-year career that culminated in managing operations and maintenance (O&M) programs in the Nashville area, Fratto has not only witnessed technological revolutions, he has lived through them himself.
Encouraged by her brother Barry Mitchell to pursue a field that was rare for women at the time, Ms. Flatt graduated from Tennessee Tech University and joined the Nashville area in 1980, eventually entering the world of blueprints and slide rules that helped digitize.
Mr. Flatt became program and project manager in 1985. He then moved on to become the Architect Engineer Acquisition Coordinator for the district’s Engineering and Construction Department, a position he held from 1997 to 2003. She has held her current position as Operations and Maintenance Program Manager since 2003, managing over $150 million in O&M projects annually.
As Ms. Flatt approaches her retirement, she recalls how she worked hard to become an engineer at a time when women were less common, and she said her efforts may have helped shatter the “glass ceiling” and pave the way for women in the career field.
“I will always be grateful to my brother Barry Mitchell for encouraging me to become a civil engineer,” Flatt said. “In 1975, very few women majored in engineering. Barry and I attended Tennessee Technological University together for a year before he tragically passed away. I remember Barry often and how he encouraged me.”
Craig Carrington, acting Nashville District project manager, presented Flatt with the Army Civilian Achievement Medal and a retirement certificate on behalf of Nashville District Commander Lt. Col. Guillermo Guandic. The award recognizes her many contributions in the program and project delivery sector, and Ms. Carrington highlighted her decades-long legacy of service.
“Connie’s deep understanding of the district and its projects allowed her to communicate her needs and ‘fight’ for the funding that Nashville needs,” Carrington said. “As an engineer, she understood the technical aspects of the components used to operate locks, retaining locks, and many other aspects of projects. During her career, Connie secured hundreds of millions of dollars in much-needed funding. Her impact will be felt for generations.”
Early in her career, she supported operations and maintenance at Fort Campbell as part of a program called “Work for Others.” Although people were using ledgers, carbon copy paper, and hard copy forms, she soon began using personal computers as the Corps of Engineers tracked and scheduled work on projects such as the Tennessee-Tombibee Waterway Project.
“The Nashville District has always been a strong advocate of scheduling systems, and our senior leadership advocated for the inclusion of Primavera (software) as part of our relatively new Program and Project Management Information System (known as P2),” Flatt said.
Although the tools have evolved from the rhythmic clatter of a typewriter to the integrated “single data entry” logic of the P2 system, the goal remains the same: precision, Flatt said.
“We’ve always been looking to transform our processes,” Flatt said. “From the first personal computer in the office to today’s use of AI, it’s important to ensure that your data can help your projects.”
In 1980, information was literally moved through the postal service or interoffice mail in physical envelopes, and files were kept in large file cabinets. Flatt accessed technical information in a library filled with books, encyclopedias, and Rolodexes. To reach her, you had to pick her up on a landline or, in the late 80s, page her.
Fast forward to today, and Flatt was using paperless cloud storage, proprietary software, and TEAMS to communicate and participate in meetings. She used search engines and AI assistants to obtain information and could be reached from virtually anywhere via cell phone and email.
“I had one of the first personal computers in the early 1980s and used scheduling software for my project management work,” Flatt said. “We always seem to be looking to transform our project management processes. Artificial intelligence today really surprises me with how useful it can be in certain situations. So this is a big change for me in terms of automation.”
During her distinguished career, her work supported complex navigation, hydropower, flood risk management, recreation, environmental management, water supply and emergency management projects across seven states in the geographically vast Cumberland and Tennessee River basins.
She supported the engineering, operations, planning, program, and project management departments and managed programs using financial, scheduling, and budgeting systems. “The Nashville area is the only place I’ve ever worked,” Flatt said.
In retiring, she left behind more than just a legacy from her work in the Nashville area. Her son, Cody, born in the 1990s, is a biologist, former park ranger and experienced program manager who now takes over as O&M program manager.
“I’m most proud of the fact that he’s such a kind, hard-working man and always strives to do the right thing,” Fratto said as he passed the torch to his son.
With Mr. Flatt officially retiring on March 31, 2026, the handing over of the O&M program to his son Cody not only filled the vacancy, but also continued the family’s legacy dedicated to the Nashville area.
The public can find news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the District’s website at https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/About/Districts/Nashville-District/, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on X (formerly Twitter) at http://www.x.com/nashvillecorps. For the latest employment and contract opportunities in the Nashville area, follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army-corps-of-engineers-nashville-district.
