United States Steel Corp. announced the appointment of Frederick T. Harnack to the position of General Manager—Research, and John C. Price to the position of General Manager—Business Planning. The appointments, both of which are based in the group’s Pittsburgh headquarters, went into effect August 1.
"Both Fred and John achieved great success in the very challenging assignment of integrating former National Steel facilities into the U. S. Steel fold," said John H. Goodish, Chief Operating Officer. "We look forward to their leadership in these two key positions at Headquarters."
In his new position, Harnack will oversee all research and development activities at U. S. Steel's Research Center in Monroeville, Pa., and will oversee the transition of the research operations to a new facility in Munhall, Pa. He will report to Anthony Bridge, Vice President—Engineering and Technology.
Harnack returns to the Pittsburgh area from Detroit, where he served as General Manager of Great Lakes Works since 2003. He joined U. S. Steel in 1976 as a Management Trainee at the Mon Valley Works' Edgar Thomson Plant, and held various operating and maintenance positions at Edgar Thomson, the former Homestead (Pa.) Works, and the Irvin Plant.
From 1990 to 1993, Harnack served as the Operations Consultant for Pro-Tec Coating Co. in Leipsic, Ohio, a joint venture operation between U. S. Steel and Kobe Steel of Japan. In 1993, he returned to the Mon Valley Works as the Casting and Rolling Operating Director and was named Plant Manager of the Edgar Thomson Plant in 1996. He was named General Manager of Mon Valley Works in 1999.
Harnack holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Master's Degree in Business Administration, both from the University of Pittsburgh.
In his new position, Price will be responsible for planning and scheduling production at all of U. S. Steel's steelmaking and finishing facilities, ensuring the company's operations achieve maximum efficiency. He will report to James Kutka, Vice President—Commercial.
Price returns to Pittsburgh from Portage, Ind., where he served as General Manager of the Midwest Plant since 2003. He began his career with U. S. Steel in 1969 as an Operations Trainee at the company's Fairless Works outside Philadelphia, where he held a series of tin mill operating and metallurgical positions. Through the 1980s, he worked in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Gary area mills in several supervisory metallurgical positions until he was named Division Manager of Sheet Products at Mon Valley Works in 1991. In 1994, he returned to Gary Works to serve as Manager of Quality Assurance and Manager of Business Services, respectively, before being promoted to Plant Manager of Finishing Operations in 1996. The following year, he was transferred back to Pittsburgh and named General Manager of Tin Products at headquarters.
Price holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.