Our Founder & CEO

Hernán Luis y Prado

Hernán Luis y Prado served in the United States Navy for 15 years as a Hospital Corpsman and then as a Surface Warfare Officer. Hernán saw three combat tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a graduate of the Navy Surface Warfare Officer School, where he completed the Chief Engineering Officer and Combat Systems Officer curricula. His personal decorations include the Navy Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon, as well as various unit and service awards.

An accomplished businessman and civic leader, Hernán was recognized by the White House as a “Champion of Change” for Workshops for Warriors’ extensive efforts and notable achievements in helping veterans successfully transition from the military into advanced manufacturing careers.

In 2012, President Barack Obama recognized Hernán as a Champion of Change. In 2014, he received the “Keith M. Turnham Humanitarian Award” in recognition of his military service and his continued commitment to serving the communities of San Diego. In 2015, Hernán was recognized by the California State Legislature as the “80th Assembly District for 2015 Veteran of the Year,” and “CEO of the Year” by the San Diego Business Journal in 2017.

In 2022, Hernán was selected by the SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration) as the “Small Business Person of the Year” for the state of California. In 2023, he was the featured speaker in the military category at TEDx San Diego, and was also asked to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. In 2024, Hernán was once again recognized as “CEO of the Year” by the San Diego Business Journal.