Kip Johnson retires from SURF after years in both the Yates and Ross Shafts

Kip Johnson is among a small group of individuals who were the first to enter the new Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) after the lower half flooded with water. 

“I was on the Ross Cage right after they got the water level down to the 4550,” Johnson said.

When the former Homestake gold mine closed in the early 2000’s, the pumps that keep the underground dry were shut off. The column of water filled the tunnels and shafts in the lower half of the former mine until 2008 when the leadership of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority successfully lobbied to have the pumps switched back on.

“We got down to the station at the 4550 and we had to shovel mud out of the way to be able to get out of the cage. If you can imagine this muddy complete mess, just piles of muck. But slowly over time, we transformed those levels into the laboratory areas we have today.” 

Johnson started in the fall of 2008, and during his first months on the job, the idea of an underground lab at the 4850 Level was still unproven, as the dewatering process was ongoing. His onboarding at the lab put him alongside seasoned miners who had spent decades underground.

“One of those first days, we were at a meeting going around the table and everyone was introducing themselves and listing all the years of experience they had on site.  When they got to me, I said, ‘I’m Kip Johnson and I’ve never been underground and I’m your quality control inspector.’ They all laughed, and it was a good way to break the ice,” Johnson said. 

The humor Johnson brought to that early meeting was balanced with a strong work ethic, straightforward approach, and respect for those with experience—he credits the mentorship of a long list of former Homestake miners for sharing the knowledge and expertise that helped him find success in those early days and throughout his career at SURF.   

“I learned a lot from all the guys who worked in both the Yates and the Ross Shafts. Hard workers with lots of knowledge,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s career at SURF began after 17 years with the state’s department of transportation. His time at SURF spanned from quality control to helping lead the refurbishment of the steel inside the Ross Shaft, to working as a Ross Shaft foreman, and finally, as the Yates Shaft superintendent, where he helped oversee the ongoing top-down maintenance and shaft timber-framing effort. His wealth of experience includes major overhauls of both steel and timber framed shafts at SURF. 

“It's hard to describe the work that went into refurbishing the steel in the Ross Shaft, the effort to remove and replace all of that, it’s amazing the work that was done,” Johnson said. “Likewise, reworking a timber framed shaft is something nobody else in the world is doing, and it’s a big deal. These crews had to figure it out from the start, and they should be recognized for the incredible quality of their work, it’s amazing.”

His experience inside both the Yates and Ross Shafts gives Johnson a rare and valuable perspective on the facility’s operations. “It’s cool to be able to say that I’ve been involved in all this stuff,” he said.

Johnson’s leadership has also been instrumental in navigating the complexities of managing multiple crews, each with their own approaches and perspectives. His philosophy on leadership is straightforward: “You’ll be my friend, but when it comes to work, you have to do your job. That’s just the way it is.” For those stepping into roles like his, Johnson offers practical advice: “Be your own person. You’ve got to be able to be a people person because you’re dealing with different crews, and each crew has their own idea of how to do things.”

Despite his departure, Johnson remains deeply invested in the future of SURF. He hopes the facility will continue to make groundbreaking discoveries. “I’m excited to see what scientists here can achieve and the breakthroughs they are looking for, whatever they might be,” he said. “SURF is on the map—big time. I want it to see it get even bigger.”

As he steps away from the responsibilities of overseeing the Yates Shaft, Johnson is looking forward to a well-earned change of pace. He plans to spend more time outdoors, improve his golf game, and enjoy the changing seasons of South Dakota. “My nephew runs Hart Ranch Golf Course, so I’m going to do a little mowing and learn how to golf better,” Johnson said with a chuckle. He’ll undoubtedly be keeping an eye on the facility’s progress—perhaps from the greens of Hart Ranch, with a golf club in hand.