Released Wednesday, April 7, 2003

Mine Agency Fills District Manager Post

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- - Kevin G. Stricklin has been selected to fill the vacant position of District 3 manager here, the Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today. Stricklin is currently assistant district manager in MSHA's District 2, headquartered in New Stanton, Pa.

"Kevin is an excellent manager with outstanding experience in all aspects of MSHA activities including mining engineering, emergency response and investigations," said Dave D. Lauriski, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. "I expect the District 3 team to achieve excellent results under his direction using all of the tools that the law provides, including enforcement, education and training, and technical assistance. Our goal is to make safety a value throughout the mining industry and send every miner home safe and healthy at the end of every working day."

As assistant district manager in District 2, Stricklin played a key role in managing the Quecreek Mine emergency response in which nine miners were rescued near Somerset, Pa., last July. He joined MSHA's technical support division in 1980. He served as a ventilation specialist and supervisory mining engineer before becoming assistant district manager in 1995. He holds a degree in mining engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

MSHA's District 3 covers the coalfields of northern West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.