March 2, 2006 — United States Steel Corp. announced that Merle Stein has been appointed General Manager of Fairfield Works, effective March 1. Stein replaces Fairfield Works' current General Manager, Robert Cary, who has elected to retire following 41 years of service.

"Merle is a proven leader and steel mill operator, and his extensive managerial and international operations experience will ensure Fairfield Works continues to be a competitive producer of quality sheet products," said U. S. Steel Chairman and CEO John P. Surma.

Stein, a native of Duquesne, Pa., holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. He began his U. S. Steel career in 1970 at the company's former National Plant in McKeesport, Pa. He was transferred to Fairfield Works in 1984, where he held several positions in tubular and sheet operations, including management of the $70-million hot strip mill modernization project in 1987. From 1994 to 2001, he served as Manager of the seamless tubular mill, which established new safety, shipment, production and yield records under his leadership.

As U. S. Steel acquired major operations domestically and in Central Europe, Stein assumed two key positions managing the transition of operational leadership to U. S. Steel. The first assignment, in 2001, was at U. S. Steel Kosice in the Slovak Republic, where he served as Vice President of Operations following acquisition of the facility in late 2000. From 2002 to 2003, he served on U. S. Steel's transition team for acquiring the National Steel assets. Once finalized, Stein was named General Manager of Granite City Works in Granite City, Ill., one of the four operations included in the purchase.

Robert Cary earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas. He joined U. S. Steel in 1964 as an engineer at Fairfield Works. Throughout his career, he progressed through managerial positions at Fairfield Works in areas including processing, customer relations, and sheet and tin production. He was named Plant Manager of Finishing Operations in 1999, a position he had held until his promotion to General Manager of Fairfield Works in 2004.

"Bob has earned great respect and admiration from the shop floor to executive management throughout his distinguished 41-year career," added Surma. "We are confident that Merle will build on the solid platform established by Bob at Fairfield Works."