In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Stephanie Lin, Vice President of Microelectronics Commons at NSTXL, to explore her path from programming microcontrollers in high school to leading one of the U.S. Department of Defense’s most dynamic technology transition platforms. Stephanie reflects on the choices that shaped her career, her passion for engineering and economics, and the lessons learned across roles in government, real estate, and national security policy.
The conversation dives into the evolution of the microelectronics ecosystem, including Stephanie’s early exposure to both lab and program office environments, her time supporting NAVSEA and the Pentagon, and her insights into the foundations of the Microelectronics Commons initiative. She walks us through the key goals of Commons—from prototyping to risk reduction—and explains how OTA-based contracting through S2MARTS and NSTXL is helping shorten the valley of death in defense innovation.
Tune in for a thoughtful exploration of career pivots, systems-level thinking, and how a national microelectronics strategy is being shaped in real time. Stephanie also previews upcoming milestones and opportunities for deeper collaboration across government, industry, and academia.