Dianna Flett is a retired Lieutenant Colonel having served for 21 years in the United States Army. She has lived all over the world and travelled extensively in Europe, the Middle East and Africa providing military intelligence and counter intelligence support to U.S. Forces. Dianna spent many years in Europe during Cold War operations and is a combat veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm; receiving several awards during her service including the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit.
Dianna’s training and education includes senior military leadership schools and the FBI’s Instructor Development Course. In 2009 she worked with FBI professionals teaching leadership and management strategies around the United States. After hearing of the complications girls were having as they grew from tweens to teens Dianna started Girl Smarts. The program started with 4 workshops and about 24 girls. Over the years, Girl Smarts has grown to spread strength and leadership training and strategies to young women, especially our youngest emerging leaders in public schools, and now counts 4000 girls who have attended Girl Smarts Programs in Virginia, attended “Power Up” days, and Summer Camps.
After hearing of way too many losses of young women to suicide, and knowing the significant impact on our veteran community, Dianna reached out to MHAFred to educate herself on the program and their impact. She subsequently joined the MHAF Board of Directors and was then asked and stepped into the role of President of the Board.
Dianna’s been a guest expert on strengthening young women on B101.5’s Sunday morning show with Dee, spoken at national bullying conferences, and was selected to attend the first US Summit on Women’s Issues in 2016 “The United State of Women”. In 2017, Dianna was nominated for the Clara de Hirsch Award Extraordinary Women’s Award, was chosen as Northern Virginian of the Year by Northern Virginia Magazine and featured in short documentary by The Story Exchange. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Stafford based not for profit “Exceptional Young Minds”.
Dianna married Steven Flett 33 years ago and is mom to 4 boys, now men, ages 19-24. They provide new lessons in leadership every day.