In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Dr. Matt Casto, Chief Technology Officer at the Midwest Microelectronics Consortium (MMEC), to trace his remarkable journey through defense innovation, trusted electronics, and semiconductor leadership. From his early aspirations of becoming an astronaut to building resilient, mission-critical systems for the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense, Dr. Casto shares a front-line view of innovation at the intersection of national security and microelectronics.
The conversation explores how Dr. Casto’s foundational experiences in electrical engineering and his tenure at the Air Force Research Lab shaped his approach to systems trust, assurance, and the need for collaboration between academia, industry, and government. He also offers candid insights into his time commuting to the Pentagon during the pandemic, and how that period sparked a broader realization about the fragility of supply chains and the importance of trusted electronics.
Now, as Chief Technology Officer at the MMEC, one of the CHIPS Act’s eight hubs, Matt is helping build a sustainable, role-based consortium to lower innovation barriers and accelerate secure technology delivery to the warfighter. The episode ends with a look at the lessons learned, what MMEC is doing differently, and why collaborative infrastructure is key to the future of U.S. microelectronics leadership.