Warner Williams

Alumni Spotlight - 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awardee - Engineering

Warner Williams

In 1969, Warner Williams’ basketball scholarship to Creighton University sat on the table, gleaming with promise. But his mother, an educator with an eye toward the future, urged him to accept a partial academic scholarship from New Mexico Tech instead. She encouraged him toward Socorro, toward petroleum engineering, and toward a path he could not yet imagine.

“At the time, I was disappointed,” he admits decades later. “But looking back, I am grateful that she guided me to take the academic route.” That maternal wisdom would prove transformative, launching a journey that would stretch across continents and industries, from the oilfields to corporate boardrooms.

Leaving Kansas City for New Mexico marked another first: his first time on a plane. The anticipation of a new adventure was heightened by the unfamiliarity of air travel. Upon landing in Albuquerque, Warner was struck by the dramatic change in environment. The transition from Kansas City’s lush green landscape to the arid desert of New Mexico was a shock that set the stage for everything that followed. From the airport, he caught a cab to the Greyhound station, then rode the bus 80 miles south to Socorro. That quiet ride gave him space to reflect, to wonder why he was there, and to begin imagining what this new chapter might hold.

From 1970 to 1974, New Mexico Tech became more than just a school for Warner. It became a crucible. The rigorous petroleum engineering program demanded everything. One overwhelming semester in computer science nearly derailed him, but a conversation with mentor Leonard Kersh redirected his path entirely. Under the guidance of Professor Anil Kumar, he absorbed not only the science but also the discipline of petroleum engineering. He mastered the slide rule before calculators were permitted, carried a 25-credit-hour semester to graduate on time, and still found time to quarterback the championship flag football team, help lead the top basketball squad, and co-found Tech’s rugby team in 1973.

Armed with his NMT degree, and later a Master’s from the University of Southern California, Warner joined Chevron, beginning a 40-year career that spanned domestic operations, international assignments, and executive leadership. He led the Chevron/Texaco upstream merger team in 2000 and 2001, integrating two energy giants’ assets, before rising to Corporate Vice President of Health, Environment, and Safety. From 2003 until his 2014 retirement, he managed two of Chevron’s largest and most profitable business units, including Gulf of Mexico operations, where deepwater exploration demanded the collective best from diverse teams.

Yet Warner’s legacy goes beyond production figures and corporate titles. “While technical achievements have been significant, it is the human side of my work that holds the greatest meaning,” he reflects. “Creating opportunities for engineers and scientists, inspiring the next generation of leaders, and serving as a role model for my children and grandchildren have all been deeply fulfilling experiences.”

His commitment to education and leadership extended far beyond Chevron. At USC, he helped establish the Center for Interactive Smart Oilfield Technologies (CiSoft) in 2003, a joint center of excellence between Chevron and the Viterbi School of Engineering. He later served on the Board of Councilors for the Viterbi School and currently sits on the Advisory Board for the Ershaghi Center on Energy Transition (E-CET).

His leadership also branched into finance. He served on the organizing committee and later as Director of Valley Republic Bancorp, a Bakersfield-based community bank, from 2008 until its merger into Tri Counties Bank in 2022. In a way, Warner was following in the footsteps of his mentor Leonard Kersh, who also transitioned from engineering into banking.

Today, through his firm Warner Williams, LLC, he consults on energy activities, organizational design, succession planning, and leadership development. He also dedicates time to expanding opportunities in STEM education. His company has worked with STEM NOLA, consulting largely pro bono to help the program expand its reach. Their 2024 Cumulative Impact Report reflects how efforts like Warner’s can ripple outward to inspire thousands of students.

Warner’s career has taken him across the globe, including Spain, France, Labrador, Nova Scotia, the former Yugoslavia, Nigeria, Angola, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), Indonesia, Denmark, and the Fiji Islands. Each assignment broadened his view of both industry and humanity, and reinforced his advice to today’s students: “Be open to international opportunities, embrace continuous learning, and lead with integrity. Technical excellence will get you started, but character and leadership will sustain your career.”

“I share these examples not to tout my personal accomplishments, but to share what God has allowed me to accomplish with the collective help of my wife, Pam, and many others,” Warner explains. “Most importantly, it illustrates the impact of following my mother’s advice. In all honesty, she made the choice for me.”

Even in retirement, Warner’s connection to New Mexico Tech remains strong. With his wife Pamela, he established the Williams Family Endowment to support future students, and they continue to back campus initiatives such as the NMT esports program. “The four years I spent at NMT significantly influenced my life,” he says. “Just as returning 55 years later to where it all started, I have come full circle.”

From beer and pizza in Socorro to billion-dollar boardrooms, from mastering slide rules to shaping global energy policy, Warner Williams’ journey validates both his mother’s wisdom and New Mexico Tech’s mission. Some paths can only be seen clearly when looking back. But the best ones create new paths for others to follow.