The Cuero Chamber of Commerce recently announced the keynote speaker for their 2025 Women in Business Luncheon as Clara Villarreal Varner, a distinguished federal service veteran and former Deputy Chief Scientist at the CIA, as keynote speaker.
Varner has more than three decades of federal government service and brings expertise in technical management, leadership, and recruitment. From overseeing multi-million-dollar reconnaissance satellite programs to spearheading inter-agency collaborations with NASA and the U.S. Space Force, her impact spans national intelligence, space science, and workforce development. A Texas native and first-generation college graduate, Varner earned her degree in Aerospace Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and has mentored countless professionals in engineering, project management, and work-life balance throughout her career.
“My message is one of resilience,” said Varner. “I hope to share my personal and professional journeys as a testament that resilience and determination enable success despite odds stacked against you... and even in a male-dominant profession away from family.”
