Mission & Values

Rebuilding American Manufacturing, One Veteran at a Time®

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Female welder at Workshops for Warriors embedded in blog post Margarita's journey from Marine to welder

Our Mission

Workshops for Warriors® (WFW) is a fully audited, board-governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The mission of WFW is to provide quality training, accredited STEM educational programs, and opportunities to earn third party nationally recognized credentials to enable veterans, transitioning service members, and other students to be successfully trained and placed in their chosen advanced manufacturing career field.

Our Values

Human Dignity

All human beings have inalienable and sacred rights regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, religious affiliation (if any), to be treated with respect, fairness, compassion and bereft of oppression.

Commitment

We are steadfast in our commitment to doing well so that we can make a difference in the lives of those who served, their families, and our country.

Patriotism

We appreciate the service of our service members and make every effort to secure their futures in civilian life.

Integrity

We respect the support of our donors through responsible planning and management of resources, and adherence to the highest ethical standards.

Teamwork

We are supportive of each other and work collaboratively to maximize the impact of our work.

Training Veterans for Advanced Manufacturing Careers Since 2008

Workshops for Warriors Founder & CEO Hernán Luis y Prado, a U.S. Navy officer and combat veteran, started WFW out of his garage in 2008. The nonprofit school is now headquartered in San Diego, CA.

Hernán’s vision is VET 2.0, the next greatest generation. Take America’s finest, those who have honorably served, and transform them into the future of American advanced manufacturing!

Awards & Honors

White House Champion of Change Award

In 2012, Hernán Luis y Prado received the White House Champion of Change Award. This award recognizes honorees for their exemplary leadership in developing significant systems for change locally and throughout the Nation.

First Place in San Diego Social Venture Partners’ Advance San Diego Program

Workshops for Warriors was awarded first place in San Diego Social Venture Partners’ Advance San Diego program. San Diego Social Venture Partners is a 501(c)(3) philanthropic membership organization that provides pro-bono consulting to strengthen local nonprofits.

Workshops for Warriors Earns Accreditation from National Institute for Metalworking Skills

In 2013, Workshops for Warriors’ Machining Program received its accreditation from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS). NIMS is the only ANSI-accredited developer of precision manufacturing skill standards and competency assessments in the United States.

Mayor of San Diego Presents Hernán Luis y Prado with Humanitarian Award

In 2014, WFW Founder & CEO Hernán Luis y Prado received the Keith M. Turnham Humanitarian Award from the Mayor of San Diego in recognition of his military service and continued commitment to serving the communities of San Diego. Council President Todd Gloria presented Hernán with the award.

KUSI “Breaking Away” Award of Excellence

The “Breaking Away” Award of Excellence recognizes a community hero in the San Diego area. All awards are chosen by KUSI News and Torrey Pines Bank.

Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Award Winner

In 2014, Workshops for Warriors won the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Award, the Nation’s largest philanthropic investment in nonprofit leadership development.

Recognized as the SolidWorks West Coast Center of Excellence

In 2015, Workshops for Warriors was recognized as the SolidWorks West Coast Center of Excellence. SolidWorks is the world leader in 3D CAD (computer-aided design) and CAE (computer-aided engineering) technology, empowering product design teams with intuitive, high performance software programs that run on Windows.

2015 American Welding Society Excellence in Welding Award Winner

Workshops for Warriors won the 2015 American Welding Society (AWS) Excellence in Welding Award in the Educational Facility category, with an individual Excellence in Welding Award presented to Dean of Welding Lyle Palm. The awards recognize individuals and organizations that have shown exemplary dedication to promoting the image of welding in their communities.

California District 80 Veteran of the Year

Hernán Luis y Prado, Workshops for Warriors Founder & CEO, was recognized as the California District 80 Veteran of the Year by the California State Legislature. He was awarded the honor for his outstanding service to the military community in California.

Veterans Honor Roll Recipient

The Veterans Honor Roll is an initiative by the San Diego Chamber of Commerce led by the Defense, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee. This award recognizes businesses and organizations that hire veterans and military spouses. Workshops for Warriors was credited with this lifetime distinction in May of 2016.

San Diego Magazine Inspirational Leader of the Year

WFW Founder & CEOHernán Luis y Prado was honored with the Latino Impact Award for Inspirational Leader of the Year by San Diego Magazine in October 2016. The award ceremony honors distinguished Latino leaders who are making a difference in their community.

San Diego Business Journal's 2017 Most Admired CEO

WFW Founder & CEO Hernán Luis y Prado was honored as the 2017 Most Admired CEO by the San Diego Business Journal.

Liberty Coin Community Partnership Award

Mutual of America honored Workshops for Warriors with its Liberty Coin Community Partnership Award in 2019.

San Diego Regional Chamber, Exceptional Veteran-Owned Business Award

WFW Founder & CEO Hernán Luis y Prado and Workshops for Warriors were honored by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce with the Exceptional Veteran-Owned Business Award in 2023.

U.S. Congressional Testimony

Hernán Luis y Prado, Founder & CEO of Workshops for Warriors, was asked to testify in front of the U.S. House Committee On Veterans’ Affairs in 2023.

Workshops for Warriors is a proud member of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. We are also proud to have received a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly Guidestar).

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Workshops for Warriors
2970 Main Street
San Diego, CA 92113