Inside Polar Semiconductor: The Quiet Engine Behind U.S. Tech Resilience
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo visits Polar Semiconductor in Minnesota to sit down with Surya Iyer, President and COO of the company. As the U.S. pushes for domestic semiconductor self-sufficiency, Polar is emerging as a key player with a distinct edge: power semiconductors and sensors manufactured at mature nodes. Surya shares […]
Can Digital Twins Revolutionize Chip Manufacturing? Rick Gottscho Thinks So.
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Rick Gottscho to explore a remarkable career that has spanned scientific curiosity, groundbreaking plasma research, and leading roles shaping the semiconductor industry. From childhood fascinations with the periodic table and science fiction, to hands-on experimental research at MIT, Rick’s journey showcases how a […]
Taking microelectronic technologies from lab to fab – the importance of public private partnerships
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Raj Jammy, a seasoned leader whose career spans semiconductor research, manufacturing, and critical public-private initiatives shaping the future of microelectronics. From growing up in India, dismantling toys to understand how they worked, to spearheading pivotal semiconductor R&D partnerships in the U.S., Raj shares […]
Tech as a Service: How SkyWater Is Reshaping U.S. Semiconductor Manufacturing
As SkyWater Technology closes its acquisition of Infineon’s Fab 25 in Austin, Director and CEO Thomas Sonderman joins host Daniel Marrujo to discuss what this milestone means for the future of domestic semiconductor innovation. With facilities now operating in Minnesota, Florida, and Texas, SkyWater is carving out a new model for microelectronics: one that centers […]
Call Sign Sparky: The Fighter Pilot Who Shaped U.S. Air Power
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with retired Lieutenant General Andy “Sparky” Croft for a captivating deep dive into a 34-year career in the United States Air Force. From humble beginnings as a struggling biochemistry student at UCLA to commanding over 38,000 personnel across multiple Air Force wings, Croft shares […]
Disrupting 150 Years of Tech: The Ideal Switch and the Rise of Menlo Micro
From cutting-edge defense systems to reshaping global energy infrastructure, Russ Garcia’s career has been anything but ordinary. In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Russ, now CEO of Menlo Micro, to trace the arc of a career that began in laser labs and radar systems and now finds him leading […]
Inside Global Strike: Mark “WX” Weatherington on Deterrence, Bombers, and the Future of Warfare
From combat flights over Afghanistan to overseeing two-thirds of the U.S. nuclear triad, retired Lt. Gen. Mark Weatherington has shaped some of the most critical defense strategies of our time. In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Weatherington for a wide-ranging conversation on military innovation, deterrence theory, and the operational […]
Bridging Worlds: How Michael Hsieh Turns Innovation Into Diplomacy
From aspiring Air Force Academy cadet to DARPA program manager and global public diplomacy speaker, Michael Hsieh’s journey is anything but conventional. In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Hsieh to trace the unexpected path that led him from quantum computing labs to shaping innovation culture around the world. With […]
Engineering America’s Comeback: Greg Van Dyk on Fusion, Chips, and National Security
In this compelling episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Greg Van Dyk—a visionary technologist, fusion energy entrepreneur, and retired Air Force leader—at the HEART Conference. From his early life on a Wisconsin dairy farm to directing billion-dollar defense acquisition programs and shaping the national conversation on microelectronics and fusion energy, Greg’s […]
Why Microelectronics Fail in Space—and What Ken LaBel Did About It
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Ken LaBel, one of the most respected figures in the world of radiation effects for space and defense electronics. With a decades-long career that spans NASA, missile defense, and strategic radiation-hardened electronics, Ken shares the moments that defined his professional path—from helping prove […]