Benny Corbell

Mine Manager, Bagdad Freeport-McMoRan

2023 – MEDAL OF MERIT UNDER 40 RECIPIENT

Benny Corbell holds a B.S Degree in Mining and Mineral Engineering from the University of Arizona. He is an experienced Mining Engineer working in the mining & metals industry. Corbell has been a Professional Engineer (PE) since 2015.

Mining is in his blood growing up in Morenci, Arizona and as part of a large mining family. He is a 4th generation miner. Corbell graduated from Morenci High School. He was a two-time state wrestling champion in the 119 and 125 pound weight classes in the 1A-2A Division.

He graduated from the U of A ROTC program in 2009 and spent 10 years in the United States Army Reserve from 2004 – 2017. He served as a Human Resource Specialist, Signal Officer and ultimately as an Engineer Officer with the rank of Captain.

He joined Freeport-McMoRan in 2009 at the Morenci Mine as an Ore Control Engineer and held various positions until 2012 when he transferred to the Oro Valley Office working on Long Range Surface Mine Planning. He spent 6 months at the Henderson Mine in Colorado and transferred to the Sieritta Operations as a Geomechanical Engineer in 2013. He left Sierrita as a Senior Drill and Blast Engineer in 2017 and transferred to the Climax Mine in Colorado as Mine Operations Superintendent. In 2019 he moved to Bagdad Mine as The Chief Engineer and in 2021 was promoted to the position of Mine Manager.

Corbell, credits his success to gaining experiences while working at multiple sites, learning from talented leaders and coworkers, and having the support of his family. While working as an engineer, for example, he gained a clear vision around slope stability that focused on safety, developing appropriate dewatering plans, and optimizing blasting to help the team achieve maximum tonnage daily.

In his off time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three boys, visiting family, and hunting.

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