Cerritos College alum and instructor Willie Castro achieves prestigious GM World Class Technician status
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2026
Media Contact: Aya Aoki; Public Relations and Communications
NORWALK, Calif. – May 27, 2026 – Cerritos College’s Automotive Mechanical Repair Instructor Willie Castro has earned
the prestigious General Motors World Class Technician status. This esteemed recognition
represents the highest level of excellence a GM technician can attain.
The journey to becoming a World Class Technician is rigorous and demanding. Technicians must meet strict certification requirements through training programs offered by the GM Service Technical College and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). The World Class Technician program allows technicians to validate their extensive knowledge and showcase their skills across various automotive service areas, earning them the title of “one and only GM expert.”
Willie, a proud alumnus of the Cerritos College Automotive Mechanical Repair Program, has taught part-time at Cerritos College for over 20 years and has over 37 years of experience in the automotive industry. He also serves as a Field Service Engineer for General Motors and is an ASE Advanced Level Specialist with master certifications in Automotive and Medium/Heavy Truck Technician. His background includes work at GM and as a Master Diagnostic Technician for Audi, where he developed expertise in advanced diagnostics and electrical systems. At Cerritos College, he teaches in the GM ASEP Program, covering basic and advanced automotive systems, as well as electric vehicle (EV) systems and safety.
"Congratulations to Willie for achieving General Motors World Class Technician status. Only about 7-8 percent of GM technicians reach this level, as the process is quite rigorous. In the United States, there are over 40,000 technicians, yet fewer than 3,000 have attained this honor. Willie is truly dedicated to preparing the next generation of automotive professionals with the essential skills needed for a technology-driven industry,” said Joe Mulleary, professor and chair of the Automotive Mechanical Repair program at Cerritos College.
Cerritos College’s GM ASEP program has been a driving force in California’s workforce development since 1979, becoming a national model for equity-driven workforce transformation. Students benefit from advanced classroom instruction and participate in paid internships at local GM dealerships, where they gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge automotive technologies and build professional networks for high-demand jobs. The program was named a 2025 Examples of Excelencia award winner and a finalist in the 2026 Bellwether Awards.
About Cerritos College: Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers nearly 300 degrees and certificates in nine divisions. Annually, more than 5,000 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages 21,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.
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