Los Angeles Valley College

Meet Your Apprenticeship Team

• 

  Dr. Brandon Hildreth

  Dean of Adult Education, Workforce Development & Dual Enrollment

  Dr. Brandon Hildreth (he/him) oversees the Adult Education, Workforce Development, and Dual Enrollment departments. In addition, he is the academic dean for the social and behavioral science departments, including Anthropology, Ethnic Studies and Sociology, Philosophy and Economics, and Psychology. Other programs within his purview include Cooperative Education, high school articulation agreements and courses, and service learning. He also is the project lead for several grant-funded projects that advance dual enrollment and workforce efforts at Los Angeles Valley College. Dr. Hildreth has a doctorate of education from The University of Missouri, Columbia, a master's degree in student affairs administration in higher education from Ball State University, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Alabama A&M University. He also earned a graduate certificate in college teaching from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Dr. Hildreth has over ten years of professional experience in administration and instruction at Hispanic-Serving and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). He has worked within the California Community college system for most of his career and previously served as the director for dual enrollment at College of the Sequoias (COS). Before his role at COS, he served as the director for continuing education and extended students at Lincoln University, Missouri, and the Coordinator for Social Justice Programs at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research interest includes queer and trans-inclusion efforts and gender policies at HBCUs. hildrebm@lavc.edu
• 

  Mario Perez

  CSIS Professor/Network Engineer

  Mario Perez is a seasoned cybersecurity professional with a passion of empowering individuals and organizations to safeguard their digital assets. With extensive experience in network engineering, ethical hacking, and cloud security, Mario has a deep understanding of the evolving threat landscape. As a dedicated educator, Mario has taught at renowned institutions like Los Angeles Valley College, Los Angeles Mission College and Santa Monica College. He is a certified instructor for industry-leading certifications such Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, and AWS, ensuring that his students receive top-tier training. Mario’s expertise extends to various domains, including:

  • Network Security: Designing, implementing, and securing complex network infrastructures.
  • Cybersecurity Education: Developing and delivering engaging cybersecurity and networking curriculum.
  • Cloud Security: Protecting cloud-based systems and data.
  • Ethical Hacking: Identifying vulnerabilities and mitigating risks.

  Mario’s commitment to excellent is evident in his numerous certifications and accomplishments. He is a Certified Ethical Hacker, Cisco Certified Network Engineer, CompTIA Network+, Fiber Optic Technician, and holds certifications in AWS Cloud Computing Architecture and Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer. Beyond his professional pursuits, Mario actively contributes to the cybersecurity community as a member of the Workforce Development and Education at California Cybersecurity Task Force and NICE Community Coordinating Council. He is passionate about sharing knowledge and fostering a collaborative learning environment. perezm2@lavc.edu

• Program 1/2

  Information Technology Support Technician Apprenticeship Program

  12-24 Months to complete the program

  Access to this program is typically open to:

  • 

    Current employees

    Incumbent workers referred to the program by their employer

  • 

    Current Students

    Students enrolling in the program needing placement with an employer

  • 

    Entry-Level Job Seekers

    Entry-level job seekers with no previous experience

  • 

    General

    Workers with experience in the industry prior to apprenticeship

    Individuals who previously completed specified apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship

  The courses required

  The courses required to complete the program are listed here. Many other courses of Related Instruction are also available and subject to apprenticeship waiver of fees.

  • VOC ED919ce Computer Hardware and Operating Systems Basics Net I
  • VOC ED920CE Networking Basic Net II
  • VOC ED921CE Networking Devices and Initial Configuration Net III
  • VOC ED922CE Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting Net IV
  • VOC ED923CE Network Support and Security Net V
  • Students who complete all courses above will be eligible to sit and take Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking Certification Exam
  • Students who complete all courses from both the IT and Cybersecurity apprenticeship programs will be eligible to sit and take Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certification Exam

  Are there pre-conditions for entry into the Program or for apprentice job placement in this Industry Sector?

  • Entry into the apprenticeship program includes conditions
  • Must have a driver’s license
  • Employers may complete drug test and background check
  • CompTIA A+ and/or CompTIA Network+

  Meet the Program team

  • Contact: Mario Perez

    CSIS Professor/Network Engineer

• Program 2/2

  Cybersecurity Specialist Apprenticeship Program

  12-24 Months to complete the program

  Access to this program is typically open to:

  • 

    Current employees

    Incumbent workers referred to the program by their employer

    Individuals with specified industry or academic credential required prior to entry

  • 

    General

    Workers with experience in the industry prior to apprenticeship

    Individuals who previously completed specified apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship

  The courses required

  The courses required to complete the program are listed here. Many other courses of Related Instruction are also available and subject to apprenticeship waiver of fees.

  • VOC ED924CE Cybersecurity Essentials I
  • VOC ED925CE Cybersecurity Essentials II
  • Students who complete all courses above will be eligible to sit and take Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity Certification Exam
  • Students who complete all courses from both the IT and Cybersecurity apprenticeship programs will be eligible to sit and take Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certification Exam

  Are there pre-conditions for entry into the Program or for apprentice job placement in this Industry Sector?

  • Must have a driver’s license
  • Employers may complete drug test and background check
  • Individuals meeting pre-reqs for certain programs (like industry or academic credential)

  Meet the Program team

  • Contact: Mario Perez

    CSIS Professor/Network Engineer