Mr. Altahi is a PhD candidate in mining engineering at Missouri S&T. He holds an MS in mining engineering from Missouri University of Science & Technology and a BS in mining engineering from King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia. His research interests include optimization applications in mining and mine planning and design. His MS research developed new models for optimizing dig limits for surface mining. He is currently working on incorporating sustainability into strategic mine planning as part of his PhD research. Mr. Altalhi is an active member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME).