LLNL celebrates incoming and graduating machinist apprentices

Central to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) prestigious Machinist Apprenticeship Program is a tradition of mentorship and support. That was evident on July 23, when four new apprentices joined the program and three graduating apprentices transitioned to state-certified machinists.

“We are so proud of you,” said Manuel Iniguez, Manufacturing Engineering Section superintendent. “As you begin your careers as machinists at LLNL, always remember to give back. The program doesn’t function without it.”

Iniguez is the new Unilateral Apprentice Committee Chair, providing oversight of the program. He assumed the role from Larry Sage, who retired this year.

In a first, all current machinist apprentices attended the graduation event, thanks to fundraising by LLNL’s Engineering directorate. Lab leaders, program mentors, the apprentices and family members celebrated Drew Hash, Chris Shaffer and Carin Herzog. All three will continue their careers at LLNL.

Brad Wallin, deputy director for Strategic Deterrence, and Anup Singh, principal associate director for Engineering, stopped by the event to express their appreciation for LLNL’s machinists.

“At the end of the day, our Lab is about providing solutions,” Singh said. “And you are the ones who do it.”

“I may be biased, because I’ve been here 30 years, but the Lab is a fantastic place to have a career,” Wallin said. “The work you do is critical. The world of machining is not static. You will always be challenged.”

Long recognized as a national model, LLNL’s Machinist Apprenticeship Program has graduated more than 200 apprentices since 1954. Nearly all have continued at the Lab as full-time machinists. Apprentices complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training with their Lab mentors and over 200 hours of classroom instruction.

Combining hands-on experience with occupation-related coursework, the apprentices train alongside LLNL’s master machinists while contributing to mission-driven manufacturing projects. The Lab’s 12 machine shops support activities ranging from target fabrication to machine tool repair with an emphasis on research and development, offering a wide range of career opportunities. Many graduates have gone onto leadership roles, including Iniguez.

Apprentices join LLNL with varied backgrounds and experiences that strengthen the program. Shaffer applied as a high school senior, while Hash had a career as a professional chef and knife maker.

“I’d like to thank the State of California and Lab leadership for keeping the program alive. Current apprentices, thank you for keeping the standards of craftsmanship high. Former apprentices and journeymen, thank you for your patience and guidance,” said Hash.

Earlier that day, incoming apprentices Jeremy Allard, Brandon Caslib, Wilson Wu and Adam Wurtz formally entered the program with a signing ceremony. Selected from over 300 applicants, they are eager to join the LLNL machinist apprentice community. Although their backgrounds differ, each quickly discovered a passion for machining.

Allard’s interest began with woodworking. “A college professor commissioned me to CNC some pieces for a guitar,” he said, referring to a Computer Numerical Control machine. “That opened my eyes to what is possible in machining.”

Wu was on a path to mechanical engineering when he took on the manufacturing role in the FIRST Robotics Competition. He changed direction and studied welding and machining at Laney College. “I’m thrilled to be in this program,” he said.

For Caslib, it was a desire to make motorcycle parts. “I was working on a mechanical engineering degree, but an intro to machining class changed everything,” he said. “It’s so hands on. I love being able to immediately apply what I’ve learned.”

Wurtz had the ultimate mentor — his father, who is a machinist at LLNL. “I started working in a machine shop when I was 16,” he said. “I feel really lucky that out of so many applicants they chose me.”

Applications for next year’s cohort will open in January 2027. Learn more.