First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Welcomes Former Director of the Office of Critical Minerals and Metals at the United States Department of Commerce, Gary Stanley, as Senior Strategic Advisor
First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Corp. has appointed Mr. Gary Stanley, former Director of the Office of Critical Minerals and Metals at the U.S. Department of Commerce, as Senior Strategic Advisor. Mr. Stanley brings over 40 years of federal government experience to the role, including serving as the lead coordinating author of the June 2019 Federal Critical Mineral Strategy and serving under multiple U.S. Presidents.
The appointment follows recent metallurgical milestones at the Company’s Pipestone XL Nickel-Cobalt Alloy Project, specifically the production of high-grade alloy concentrate using the ONSHORE MAX™ process. On June 24, 2026, the Company produced high-grade alloy concentrate grading up to 71.9% nickel and 1.76% cobalt using the ONSHORE MAX™ (Magnetic Alloy eXtraction) recovery and concentration process. Prior to this, on May 21, 2026, electron microprobe analysis returned 77.62% nickel and 1.69% cobalt in awaruite at the RPM Zone.
The ONSHORE MAX™ process uses magnetic separation and flotation to produce high-grade concentrate without smelting, roasting, or high-pressure acid leaching. The Company believes this process can anchor a vertically integrated North American nickel-cobalt supply chain, enabling direct refining of nickel sulphate (NiSO₄) qualifying under Section 45X(c)(6) of the U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit.
Mr. Stanley’s background includes serving as the former Director of the Office of Critical Minerals and Metals at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He is a recipient of a 40-Year Distinguished Federal Service Award and serves as President and Managing Director of Global Mineral Strategies, LLC. He currently advises First Phosphate Corp. and Standard Lithium Ltd.
Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Gary Stanley, Senior Strategic Advisor, said: “I count it a great professional honor to join the outstanding team at First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt and to work alongside a group of visionary and experienced professionals. The Company stands out in the global critical minerals sector with its large-scale discovery of awaruite (Ni₃Fe) at its Pipestone XL Project in Newfoundland, an exceptionally rare, naturally-occurring, magnetic, sulfur-free nickel-cobalt-iron alloy.”