CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice announced today that he has appointed Ernest Eugene White as director of West Virginia Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training (MHST). He fills the position being vacated by the retiring Greg Norman, who joined MHST in 2006.
“Eugene White was born and raised in the coal fields of West Virginia,” said Gov. Justice. “He has hands-on experience and knows what it takes to do this work. He has dedicated his career to improving mine safety and training.”
White joined MHST in 2007 as Inspector at Large for Region 3. He served in several leadership posts in the agency. In 2017, he was appointed MHST deputy director.
A third-generation miner, White is a native of West Virginia. He has 45 years of coal mining experience, including work in underground coal mines after graduation from high school.
White worked for steel and coal companies in numerous roles such as coal drill operator, roof bolter, shuttle-car operator and safety committee chairman. His professional certifications include underground coal miner, mine foreman, gas instructor, and mine rescue.
He has been a member of the State Mine Emergency team for 15 years.
Also, it was announced that Frank Foster and Johnny Kinder have been appointed as Deputy Directors for MHST.
Foster, who started his mining career in 1976 as a general laborer, most recently served as Assistant to the Vice President for Jennmar USA. He has worked in several positions over the last 42 years with a focus on safety and compliance.
Kinder has worked for MHST since 2002 and has been an Inspector at Large since 2016. He also served as Acting Deputy Director for two years. Prior to joining MHST, Kinder worked as an underground miner in various capacities for 11 years.
“Frank Foster and Johnny Kinder have decades of mining experience that they bring to the job and they will help to continue our focus on safety and training for West Virginia’s mining community.
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