John Denney came to Fort Knox as a Haul Truck Operator and quickly became known for bringing more than just operational experience to the job. With a background that includes military service, aviation maintenance management, sales and mining operations, John brings decades of practical problem-solving, communication and solution-oriented experience to the team.

John has always been drawn to finding better ways to do things. Whether he is working in the pit, building tracking tools, analyzing production data, creating dashboards, or helping make information easier to understand, he enjoys turning everyday challenges into useful systems and practical improvements.

Now, John is taking that experience into the Continuous Improvement department as a Data Analyst, where his firsthand operations knowledge and problem-solving mindset can be put to the test in a new way. This role gives him the opportunity to combine field experience with data, helping identify opportunities, improve visibility and support smarter decision-making across the operation.

Outside of work, John is passionate about photography, coaching softball and spending time with his family. He enjoys supporting youth sports and continuing to build skills that help him grow both personally and professionally.

John’s adaptability, drive to learn and willingness to take on new challenges make him a valuable part of the Fort Knox team.

1. Where are you from?  I was born in Utah, raised in Washington and fell in love with Alaska when the Army shipped me “Home” in 2007. Except for a short stint away while serving, Alaska truly is home. It’s where two of my three daughters, as well as my wife were all born. I am grateful to be in this beautiful area, despite its grueling and unforgiving environment.
   
2. What was your first job?  My first job was selling ski and snowboard gear at Sportmart.
   
3. What brought you to Kinross?  A fellow coworker who was a mechanic got hired on out here. After some due diligence, I fell in love with the safety culture. Coming from over a decade and a half in Aviation, safety isn’t just something that’s important to me, it’s critical.
   
4. What is one word that describes you? Happy-Go-Lucky
   
5. Favorite music? I’ll listen to just about everything, from rock to classical, from rap to house music… but that Nashville pop is definitely not on the list.
   
6. Favorite food? Close tie between Mexican and Thai.
   
7. Weirdest food you have eaten? Fish head and Plantain Fufu.
   
8. Favorite place? Valdez
   
9. What are three items you would take on a deserted island? Sat-Phone, an offshore aluminum boat, extra fuel.
   
10. Cats or dogs? Dogs.
    
11. What does your perfect weekend look like? Calm water and tight lines.
    
12. Do you have a hobby or one you want to try? Fishing
    
13. Do you have any hidden talents? I don’t know about hidden, but photography is another passion of mine.
    
14. If you could pick any superpower, what would it be and why? To have the ability to time travel and teleport.  To be able to go anywhere at any time, in an instant, would lead to a very interesting life.
    
15. What was a proud achievement in your working career? Getting a multi-year $650k contract negotiated, implemented, trained and approved by the FAA, multiple departments and the company CEO. It was the culmination of over two years of hard work that led to numerous savings, error reductions, sustainability, continuity and data management across the organization.