Curtis Flakes

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Mr. Curtis M. Flakes retired from the United States Army Corps of Engineers , Mobile District as Chief of Planning and Environmental Division in December 2019 after 39 years of service. He was previously Chief, Coastal Environment Section, Chief, Environment and Resources Branch and Deputy Chief, Planning and Environmental Division. 

Mr. Flakes’ selection as Planning and Environmental Division Chief in 1998, launched a period of unprecedented program growth. When many planning organizations were reorganizing into Project Management and experiencing program downturn, his program reached the $100 million pinnacle. The military planning segment boasted the largest military planning program in the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Such civil works projects as Mobile Harbor deepening, Gulfport and Panama City Harbors improvements, Mississippi Coastal Improvement Programs, and the Eagle and Phenix Dam removal occurred under his leadership. 

Mr. Flakes leadership was pivotal in establishing the National Deep Draft Navigation Planning Center of Expertise in the Mobile District. The Center's “production” operation revolutionized the methods of delivery for deep draft navigation economics and removed a major impediment to Chief’s Reports and criticism from Congress and the shipping industry. 

Mr. Flakes implemented the Mobile-Savannah Districts Regional Planning Center; one of the first and most successful structural regionalizations of planning in the USACE. He played a major role in the completion of the Savannah Harbor study; a major milestone for economic development in Georgia and the nation. 

Mr. Flakes established the Mobile Districts Emerging Leader Forum/Leadership Development Program. Mr. Flakes honors include Superior Civilian Service Medal, Bronze Order of the Deflury Medal, Secretary of Army Achievement Award; South Atlantic Division Planning Team of the Year; Mobile District Commander’s Award for Civilian Service; South Atlantic Division Commander Letter of Appreciation; South Atlantic Division Project Delivery Team of the Year; USACE Commander’s Certificate of Achievement; Savanna District “Charles Trainor” Team Award; Mobile District Commander Certificate of Appreciation; Award of Excellence Louisville District Commander; and the Mobile District Sustained Superior Performance Award. Mr. Flakes has served many civic and religious organizations including Leadership Mobile, Project Blueprint, Boys and Girls Club, Association for the Study of American Life and History, Lions Club, Gulf Coast Football Challenge, Standing Committee Episcopal Diocese Central Gulf Coast, and Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Mr. Flakes, a native of LaFayette, Alabama, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Alabama A&M University and a master’s degree in biology from Florida Institute of Technology. He is married to Deborah A. Flakes. They have two sons and a granddaughter.