NEW YORK, NY — STV today announced that Donald Del Nero II, PE, CDT, has joined the firm as vice president and tunnel engineering director, strengthening its national tunneling capabilities as demand grows for more complex, resilient underground infrastructure programs nationwide.
Nearly 30 large-scale tunnel projects are currently in planning or execution across the U.S., representing approximately $50 billion in investment driven by increased demand to expand capacity, modernize aging systems and build more resilient networks.
Del Nero brings four decades of experience delivering transportation and water infrastructure through design-build, construction manager at-risk and other alternative delivery models. His expertise spans risk management; underground design and construction; tunnel boring technologies and contract strategy; and helping clients navigate challenging subsurface conditions and large-scale infrastructure programs with greater certainty.
“The scale and complexity of underground infrastructure is increasing, and clients are under more pressure to deliver these programs with clarity and confidence,” said Frank Pepe, senior vice president and national director of tunneling and geotechnical engineering at STV. “Don will help us integrate risk-informed delivery and strengthen how we approach these underground challenges so our clients can make better decisions and deliver with greater predictability.”
Prior to joining STV, Del Nero held senior leadership roles at leading global engineering and consulting firms. Over his career, he has contributed to more than 100 miles of tunnels and is widely recognized for advancing risk-informed delivery approaches and integrating geotechnical strategy into major infrastructure programs.
Del Nero is a licensed professional engineer in multiple states and has authored more than 50 technical publications. He serves on several industry advisory boards and most recently received the 2025 Microtunneling Achievement Award for Excellence in Engineering. He holds a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from Syracuse University, a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Clarkson University and is a Ph.D. candidate at the Colorado School of Mines.
STV is a national leader in tunneling, underground structures and geotechnical engineering, delivering some of the most complex underground infrastructure projects in North America. The firm provides comprehensive planning, design, program management and construction management services for transit, rail, highway, water/wastewater tunnels and subsurface facilities. STV is a key partner on the Hudson River Tunnel, one of the core elements for the Gateway Program. Other key projects include the Howard Street Tunnel Clearance Program in Baltimore and the passenger tunnel connecting Grand Central the No. 7 Subway Line’s Grand Central-42nd Street station, which was selected for the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York’s (ACEC NY) Diamond Award.
