For the past 15 years, Rubio has been an automotive instructor at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif., and also heads the engineering program and more
San Diego—Mariano Rubio of Covina, Calif., has been named the 2025 Mitchell 1/National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master Technician of the Year during the ASE Service Professionals Awards banquet, held recently in Savannah, Ga.
“Mitchell 1 is proud to recognize Mariano Rubio as this year’s ASE Master Technician of the Year,” said Cami Hermann, director of marketing at Mitchell 1. “Mariano’s exemplary performance each and every day makes him an outstanding example of excellence in the automotive industry.”
As the award recipient, Rubio received an all-expense paid trip to attend the ASE awards banquet, including airfare and hotel, and a $1,000 cash prize.
For the past 15 years, Rubio has been an automotive instructor at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif. He currently teaches automatic transmission and HVAC repair in the Toyota T-TEN program, drivetrain and advanced vehicle electrical systems in the medium and heavy-duty truck program and standby generator repair, including diesel engine repair, AC generator inspection and AC electrical fundamentals.
Rubio also heads the engineering program, where he teaches classes in engineering graphics, mechanics of materials and engineering numerical computations.
In addition to his instructor roles, Rubio serves as an advisor to the Citrus Automotive, Physics and Engineering (CAPE) design team, where he is helping students build a gasoline and electric high-mileage vehicle to compete in the Shell Eco-marathon. He is also the advisor to the college’s engineering club.
When he’s not at Citrus College, Rubio works as a diagnostic technician at Young’s Automotive in Covina, Calif., and as a crash accident investigator for Peter R. Thom & Associates Inc. He is also pursuing a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering at the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC).
In addition, Rubio has coauthored papers on transient pulsed plasma ignition sources for internal combustion engines, extreme-lean hydrogen mixtures and single fuel ammonia combustion engines.
Rubio holds ASE certifications in A1-A9, T1-T8, L1, L2, L3, F1, C1, G1 and X1. He has also earned certifications in GSA Apprentice, NFPA 70-E High Voltage Safety, MACS Section 609 and SOLIDWORKS CAD Design Associate.
Rubio credits his father, Mariano Rubio Sr., who has been an ASE-certified technician since the late 1970s, with inspiring him to follow in his footsteps. He also recognizes his high school automotive teacher, Brad Walsh, for guiding him through his auto shop classes and encouraging his first job at a Toyota dealership.
To qualify for the Technician of the Year award, the winner must achieve the status of ASE Master Certification, pass one or more of the A1-A8 automotive tests with the highest scores within the past 12 months and maintain the highest average passing score across all automobile tests within the past five years.
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