World Class Wednesday: Sergio Chaira: Teaching in Retirement
Earning the title of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) World-Class Technician is no small accomplishment. To be recognized as World-Class, these individuals have obtained ASE certification in 22 specialty areas: A1-A8 (automotive), T1-T8 (medium/heavy truck), B2-B5 (collision repair), and L1-L2 (advanced).
Not only is achieving certification in these areas impressive, but becoming World-Class is no small feat. As of 2025, only 2,000 technicians have achieved World Class status.
In this Q&A, Motor Age sat down with Sergio Chaira — an ASE World Class technician and teacher at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona — to learn more about his journey in the automotive industry and how gaining World-Class status has helped advance his career.
Motor Age: Please introduce yourself and tell us about your experience in the automotive industry.
Chaira: In 1989, I joined the automotive program at my high school. After I graduated, I went to the Universal Technical Institute and got an automotive degree. Shortly after, I joined the Air Force as a mechanic. That is when I first became ASE certified.
After four years of active duty, I transferred over to the Air National Guard. At the same time, I started my civilian job at UPS as a mechanic.
I retired this month — April 2026 — after 30 years at UPS. I just started a part-time job as an adjunct automotive instructor at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. received his World Class Status in 2024.
Motor Age: What's the most memorable repair you've ever completed?
Chaira: Having to diagnose and fix time-critical vehicles in Afghanistan is the most memorable repair I’ve completed.
Also, completing repairs at the Automotive Trucking Association (ATA) Super Tech competition was memorable. I was able to compete in that for several years and won an event at the National level in Cleveland, Ohio.
Motor Age: Tell us one thing about you that we can't guess from your certifications.
Chaira: I have a 1970 2c 10 that I like restoring. That's my pastime, working on cars.
Motor Age: What automotive technology trend are you most excited about/ most concerned about?
Chaira: : I'm most excited about EV and hybrid technology.
Motor Age: How has ASE certification helped advance your career?
Chaira: : It helped get my teaching job at the communi
About the Author
Emily Kline
Emily Kline is a Special Projects Editor for FenderBender and ABRN, ABW, Motor Age, and Ratchet+Wrench. She also produces an annual publication for SATA called Painter's Playbook, is a Senior Contributing Editor for NAPA INSIGHT, and oversees Ratchet+Wrench's Shop Goods issues and FenderBender's Ultimate Collision Repair Shop.
She has worked in the Vehicle Service & Repair Group at Endeavor Business Media for over 3 years, learning about vehicle repair and the automotive industry as a whole. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona. As a writer, she enjoys her fair share of reading and has no shame in using the long Minnesota winters as an excuse to stay indoors and cozy up with a good book.