Company History

Vaughn & Melton was organized in early 1967 by Robert W. Vaughn and Lewis N. Melton. They chose Middlesboro, Kentucky as the small city environment in which to offer engineering services not previously available in the area.

Before the end of 1968, the team consisted of seven people and more services had been added. In 1969, a Tennessee office was added along with mechanical engineering and design. By 1971, the group had grown to 16 people with environmental engineering having been added.

At the end of its first decade, V&M had moved into new headquarters in Middlesboro and added most related engineering and design services. The group had more than doubled from the previous three years, greatly increasing capacity in all fields and adding services to the coal industry. In 1981, structural engineering for bridge design was offered, and in 1983 mining and electrical engineering services were expanded, swelling our number to over 60. Then, by 1985, the number had grown to over 100 professional, technical, administrative, and clerical people. The next year marked the beginning of the Asheville, North Carolina office. During this period industrial and structural engineering capabilities were expanded.

Each office continues to operate as a decision-making entity, although the complete engineering and surveying capabilities of all locations are readily available to support each other.

The decade of the 1990’s brought another doubling of our staff size with the acquisition of Flynt Engineering Company, a civil engineering and land surveying firm in Knoxville, Tennessee.  In the early 2000’s, Construction Engineering & Inspection (CEI) services were added providing another significant growth opportunity for V&M.

Today with more than 100 employees, V&M offers a wide range of engineering and surveying services for the people and industries of the regions we serve. We are proud of our record of continuing growth and of the quality of service to our clients. The growth and reputation of the firm are the direct result of individual efforts and close cooperation by all of our people. Our future success depends on the continuation of these efforts and strict adherence to the highest standards.