He graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York and was commissioned second lieutenant of Infantry.

Woerner pursued a military career divided between traditional infantry assignments and duties associated with Latin America.

He was a tenured full professor teaching in the Department of International Relations, College of Arts and Sciences.

[5] Woerner served as senior executive for the completion of the project to build the congressionally mandated World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC, including design, private fund raising, construction, and dedication.

[6] He was also responsible for commemorating the services of the armed forces through the management of 24 military burial grounds and 28 monuments/markers located worldwide, and the construction of new memorials.