HILLIS-CARNES ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES, INC. ANNOUNCES THE HIRING OF MR. KARL HIGGINS, P.E., BC.GE, AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Leadership transition marks a new chapter for Hillis-Carnes as the firm builds on decades of success.

Hillis-Carnes is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Karl Higgins as their new Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Karl succeeds Mr. Timothy Hill, P.E., who is transitioning to a new role on the Hillis-Carnes Board of Directors after 30 years of dedicated leadership and service with Hillis-Carnes and more than 45 years in the industry. Tim will remain on the executive team to assist during the transition for the remainder of 2025 until the transition is complete.  

During his tenure, Tim played a pivotal role in shaping Hillis-Carnes’ growth, culture, and operational excellence. He led major initiatives such as opening a number of new office locations in the Mid-Atlantic region, securing landmark projects such as M&T BANK Stadium, Nationals Ballpark, Heinz Field, and the Washington Convention Center, and leaving a lasting impact on their team and clients alike. Hillis-Carnes thanks Tim for his remarkable leadership and wish him the very best in retirement.

Karl Higgins brings over 35 years of industry experience in Geotechnical Engineering and Building Construction Inspection, providing services for both private and public sector clients, including local, county, federal, and state agencies. Karl is a Board-Certified Geotechnical Engineer by the Academy of Geo-Professionals, ASCE.  Most recently, Karl served as the Chief Engineer for a large national engineering firm with more than 850 employees. Karl has also served in other various management roles, overseeing hundreds of engineers, geologists and technicians serving the DMV area.  He is a member of ASCE, NAIOP, Deep Foundations Institute, and the Pile Driving Contractors Association and is also a Professional Engineer in Maryland, Virginia, DC, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, and North Carolina. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Karl to our executive team,” said Bill Carnes, P.E., Principal at Hillis-Carnes. “He brings a proven track record of technical expertise, operational excellence, and visionary leadership that aligns perfectly with our strategic goals.”

“I’m honored to join Hillis-Carnes at such an exciting time,” said Higgins. “I look forward to working alongside the incredible team here to build on the strong foundation and continue driving results.”

This transition marks an exciting new chapter for Hillis-Carnes, as the firm looks toward continued growth and innovation in the engineering industry.

About Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. 

Established in 1989, Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates, Inc. (HCEA) is an employee-owned, multi-disciplined consulting engineering firm based in the Mid-Atlantic Region. HCEA specializes in Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Materials Testing and Inspections, Drilling and Subsurface Explorations, Environmental Consulting and Industrial Hygiene Services, Geostructural Engineering, Deep Foundations, Specialty Geotechnical Construction, Facilities Consulting, Construction Consulting and Third-Party Inspections, Geoscience, Laboratory Testing, and Drone Inspection services. With over 450 experienced employees and over 25 Professional Engineers, HCEA has provided its services and expertise to both public and private sector Clients for over 36 years. We provide our clients with the best available technology, as well as providing them with excellent service, regardless of a project’s technical challenges, size, or location.  HCEA’s Corporate Headquarters is located in Annapolis Junction, Maryland and has 20 additional office locations situated throughout Maryland, DC, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, Florida, and Barbados.

For more information, visit http://www.hcea.com