David Briskey is a Vice President based out of Hill International’s Pittsburgh, PA, office. With more than 40 years of engineering and project management experience in the construction industry, Dave understands exactly what can go wrong during the project life cycle, as well as the best ways to mitigate issues and keep projects on schedule and on budget. As a life-long Pittsburgher, Dave also has an in-depth knowledge of the local construction market, stakeholders in the region, and geographical challenges. He uses this expertise to support his colleagues and help Hill’s clients throughout Western Pennsylvania manage construction risk and deliver their projects as planned.

The manner in which Dave joined Hill, the high-profile projects he’s supported during his time with the company, and the passion he has for his work are important parts of Dave’s unique professional story. They also help demonstrate how Hill International operates and how our outstanding employees have built Hill’s legacy over the past 50 years.

Taking Part in Hill’s Acquisitive Growth 

While much of Hill’s growth has taken place organically, our company has also grown through acquisitions, including one that brought Dave to Hill in 2010. That year, Hill acquired the construction management business line of a large construction firm where Dave had worked since 1996. The acquisition introduced Hill to the Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania market and bolstered our firm’s expertise in the management of bridge and highway projects.

Dave says that, after the acquisition, Hill made no major changes to the small, close-knit group. This decision gave Dave and his colleagues an opportunity to operate with independence. “I think it was empowering for us and a smart move for Hill,” Dave adds. “We were able to demonstrate to Hill and to ourselves that we could stand on our own feet, and, for Hill, it meant that locals familiar with the market could lead the entry into Pittsburgh. Our team achieved success that first year after the acquisition, and we’ve been doing well ever since.”

Through the hard work of Dave and his colleagues, many of whom have remained with Hill since the 2010 acquisition, Western Pennsylvania continues to be an engine for Hill’s growth today, with a variety of ongoing project assignments in the transit, healthcare, highway, bridge, and aviation markets. In fact, Dave was part of the project team that recently cut the ribbon on one of our most high-profile assignments in the region: the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) Terminal Modernization Program (TMP).

The Transformation(s) of PIT

One of Hill’s oldest clients in the Pittsburgh area is the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA). Hill has provided a variety of construction management services through task order contracts with the ACAA since the 2010 acquisition, and Dave has been a crucial part of that story. Beyond his time with Hill, Dave has worked with the ACAA continuously for almost 25 years.

Dave’s assignments have included major transformations of landside and airside infrastructure and systems at PIT, encompassing all aspects of airport operations. “I’ve had the opportunity to work on baggage handling systems, security checkpoints, parking garages, hangars, landscaping, roadway projects, electrical and fire prevention system upgrades, you name it,” he says. Working with the ACAA on so many transformative projects at PIT over so many years made Dave uniquely qualified to help the ACAA implement the TMP, one of the largest transformations in the airport’s history.

The $1.7 billion TMP comprised the delivery of a new landside terminal, an arrival and departure ring-road system, surface parking lots, a multi-level parking garage, and more to enhance the passenger experience, improve circulation, facilitate airport and airline operations, reduce operational costs, and better meet the needs of travelers in the region.

The ACAA undertook the project because PIT is no longer a hub airport, explains Dave. As the airport now primarily serves origin-and-destination (O&D) passengers, the ACAA wanted to reduce the distance between the airport’s landside and airside facilities, reducing the time O&D passengers spend navigating the airport. Flyers can now go from the landside terminal to the airside terminal and vice versa via a short pedestrian bridge. The new terminal also features a variety of upgrades, including new information systems and signage, check-in locations, security checkpoints and security systems, and a variety of amenities to improve the passenger experience, such as additional seating with device-charging stations, new designs and art installations, and improved restroom areas. The program’s other major elements, including the arrival and departure ring-road system, the 2,700-space surface parking lot, and the 3,300-space garage, allow passengers easy access to the new landside terminal.

Because of his years of experience at the airport and his familiarity with the ACAA’s preferences and management procedures, the agency trusted Dave as an extension of their staff for the TMP. He was responsible for managing project interfaces, coordinating with the multi-prime contractors, maintaining effective communications, analyzing and mitigating risks, and helping the ACAA make data-driven decisions about their program and projects in a timely fashion. With his support, the ACAA kept the TMP under control through challenging periods like utility relocations and opened their new terminal in late 2025.

Building a Lasting Legacy 

Reflecting on the TMP, Dave calls the program a capstone assignment for his career. “It was a great program, and the new terminal is a fantastic building that will facilitate operations for the ACAA and air travel for Pittsburghers for many years,” he goes on.

“I’m proud that the Hill team and I have been able to be part of the airport’s history through this and so many other transformations.”

With the new terminal open, Dave has started to think about retirement. He looks forward to watching more Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games, travelling, and spending more time with his family. However, for now, he is still working hard managing the completion of punch list items at the airport. Dave has also started to compile and share things he has learned during the program and throughout his career with his team. “My goal is to make sure that, when I do retire, my team can use my experience to keep things moving smoothly,” he explains. “I’m not going anywhere until I’m confident that’ll be the case. I owe that to my clients and to my colleagues.”

“In many ways, Dave’s story tells Hill’s story,” adds Senior Vice President, East Region Manager Todd Cooper, who joined Hill as a part of the same acquisition that brought Dave to the company.

“His earliest experiences with Hill reflect how the firm does business as a global organization with an ecosystem of regional units that can act independently and flexibly in response to local conditions. He’s worked on and contributed to the success of impactful projects, the kind for which Hill is known. Like his colleagues around the world, Dave is also passionate about his work and committed to sharing his expertise for the benefit of his clients and their projects. That story is completely his own, but it also helps show why Hill has become one of the world’s largest and most successful project and construction management firms.”