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 career embodies the intersection of technical depth, public policy, and relentless innovation. The conversation explores the multi-decade journey that brought him to the forefront of energy and manufacturing transformation.
Greg shares the behind-the-scenes story of his pivotal role in the Department of Energy’s analysis of alternatives for onshore microelectronics production—a foundational study that helped pave the way for the CHIPS Act. He details the political and industrial inflection points that drove renewed domestic investment in semiconductors and why that effort mirrors the critical need for progress in the fusion energy space. With clarity and vision, Greg breaks down the promise of fusion, the enabling technologies making it viable today, and the scaling and supply chain hurdles yet to be solved.
As he embarks on his second 20-year career, Greg’s goal is bold: build the world’s largest fusion supply chain company, deliver carbon-free energy everywhere, and revitalize U.S. manufacturing at a scale not seen since World War II. Tune in to hear a rare blend of engineering insight, defense strategy, and entrepreneurial drive aimed at solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges.