As a co-op student at Virginia Tech, John Grubb learned the basic skills of mining. He continued to apply his education and gain experiences over a career that spanned from managing a rock quarry as an Army lieutenant in Vietnam to starting several coal mines in the southern Appalachian region to managing dragline operations in the United States and Australia and leading their transition to underground mining. He managed three joint ventures in which BHP was a partner in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Zimbabwe through some significant operational challenges. Initially, as a PhD student and later as an adjunct professor, John taught technical and managerial subjects and initiated a major mine ventilation research program at Colorado School of Mines. Throughout his operating and teaching experiences, he emphasized operating excellence in mining operations, highlighted by a priority on safety, health, and being a responsible corporate citizen.