NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 13, 2022) – Sixteen U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District employees graduated from the 2022 Supervisory Training Program in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 7. The program is designed to train employees for leadership positions within their departments and foster relationships with members of partnering departments for cohesive collaborative work.
Deputy Operations Manager and this year’s Chief Program Coordinator Tommy Mason said the program helps prepare these supervisors to succeed in their roles.
“These graduates are leaving here with the tools to be effective leaders and to help build a “community of practice” working together with other departments to solve some of the issues we face at the Corps of Engineers.
The 9-month program covered a range of topics. Personnel Management, Supervisor Roles, Funding and Budgeting, and Project Management were some courses taught.
STP Program Manager and Cordell Hull Lake Natural Resource Manager Kenny Claywell said he enjoyed getting together with fellow supervisors to exchange learning experiences and success tactics used for on-the-job problem-solving at other Corps locations.
“We exchanged a lot of really great ideas and also learned from the senior leaders and the administrators teaching the program,” said Claywell. “There were good key points and nuggets of information that we'll be able to take back with us to help out on the job, especially for a relatively new supervisor like me.”
Claywell said that the program has given him excellent networking opportunities, which has made him feel more confident in reaching out to other supervisors with questions or concerns.
Graduates sat down with the Nashville District Leadership Panel for a question-and-answer segment. Panel members included District Contracting Chief Heather Turner, Regulatory Division Chief Joshua Frost, and Deputy District Commander MAJ Todd Mainwaring.
Mainwaring shared with graduates some of his favorite books on leadership and problem-solving tactics he learned during his time at the United States Military Academy. He said as “frontline” supervisors, these graduates will return to their departments armed with new leadership techniques meant to help keep the Corps running strong.
“When we talk about the importance of these supervisors within the organization, it’s vital that we recognize the responsibilities they have when implementing the policies and delivering results at our Nashville District locations. Without them, a leadership panel is useless, so we want them armed with as much knowledge and resources as we can possibly provide,” said Mainwaring.
STP Bureau Member and Equal Employment Opportunity Manager Stephanie Coleman said since 2017, the program has helped many supervisors find security in their positions; helping them lead their teams more confidently.
“We want our employees to know the resources are here for them to grow. There are many opportunities for development within the Corps, and this is just one of them. Anyone interested in taking this course should speak with their supervisors because a new class starts every April, so there is ample time to sign up,” said Coleman.
The Supervisor Training Program is one of many professional development programs the Corps of Engineers offers employees to foster prominent leadership and problem-solving skills within the organization.
The Nashville District routinely advertises its job opportunities on USAJobs.gov, and posts them on its public LinkedIn page. The public is encouraged to follow the LinkedIn page for the latest Nashville District employment and contracting opportunities at https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-army-corps-of-engineers-nashville-district.
The public can also obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.