The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) has announced Robert Stier of Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring as the new co-chair of the group’s Tunneling and Underground Committee. He joins co-chair, Jim Morrison, P.E., P.Eng., COWI, and takes over for outgoing co-chair David Klug of David R. Klug & Associate.

In a release, the group describes Stier’s 35 years of tunneling and underground experience. He oversees the eastern region for specialty geotechnical firm Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring (DTDS), which performs tunneling operations throughout the U.S. Since joining DTDS in 2018, Stier has helped procure tunnel projects on both the West Coast and eastern U.S., and has procured and managed the company’s first foundation projects in the eastern region. Under his guidance, DTDS procured its largest GC design-build contract for National Parks Service, and he currently manages that project.

Stier earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technology from Southern Polytechnic State University (Kennesaw State) in Marietta, Georgia.

The DFI Tunneling and Underground Committee focuses on identifying and advancing new methods and technologies for design, construction, inspection, maintenance and operation of tunnels and underground systems as well as liaising with deep foundations technologies for ancillary underground structures.

The DFI is an international association of contractors, engineers, academics and suppliers in the deep foundations industry with more than 4,000 members worldwide. For more information about the Deep Foundations Institute, visit www.dfi.org.