Austin News

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Charles “Chuck” Wright and reappointed Laura Koerner to the Texas Veterans Commission for terms set to expire on December 31, 2029. The Commission serves as the state-appointed advocate for Texas veterans as they attempt to secure the benefits rightfully earned in exchange for their service in our nation's armed forces.

Charles “Chuck” Wright of Frisco is a financial planner and founder of Lone Star Wealth Strategies. According to the announcement, Wright is a board member of United Service Organizations of Dallas/Fort Worth and the One Star Foundation. Additionally, he is a lifetime and founding member of the Collin County Marine Corps League. Wright served in the United States Marine Corps as a CH 46 pilot and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics from The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Laura Koerner of Fair Oaks Ranch, on the other hand, is a director of portfolio management at USAA. The release states that she served in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare (Nuclear) Officer onboard USS MAHAN (DDG 72) and USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65), earning 2 Navy Commendation Medals and a Navy Achievement Medal. Koerner is also a Blue & Gold Officer with the admissions department of the United States Naval Academy and a member of various organizations including the Project Management Institute, United States Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation, and American Legion. Koerner received a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.