Vaughn R. Groves has been Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary since August 2009. Prior to the merger with Foundation in July 2009, he served as Senior Vice President from February 2009 until August 2009, as Vice President from September 2006 until February 2009, and as Secretary and General Counsel from November 2004 until July 2009 Vaughn joined the management team as the vice president, secretary and general counsel of Alpha Natural Resources, LLC in October 2003, and also served as the vice president and general counsel of ANR Holdings, LLC from November 2003 until ANR Holdings, LLC was merged with another of its subsidiaries in December 2005.Before that, he served as Vice President and General Counsel of Pittston Coal Company from 1996 until joining Alpha, and as Associate General Counsel of Pittston Coal Company from 1991 to 1996. Before joining Pittston, Vaughn was associated with the law firm of Jackson Kelly PLLC, one of the leading mineral law firms in the Appalachian region. He is also a mining engineer and before obtaining his law degree, he worked as an underground section foreman, construction foreman and mining engineer for Monterey Coal Company.