MICRO JOURNEYS PODCAST
About Dan Marrujo
Daniel Marrujo is a former Chief Strategy Officer and former Director of the Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA) at the Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA).
Mr. Marrujo began his career at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ., developing missile guidance systems for their advanced programs. He then moved to DMEA, in his hometown of Sacramento, CA., working for the Trusted Integrated Circuit (IC) program office. In conjunction with working on the Trusted IC program, he began working towards the development of DMEA’s reliability capabilities and was selected to lead the National High Reliability Electronics Virtual Center (HiREV).
Mr. Marrujo also established the NRO’s VS&E program which has executed a number of solutions protecting National Security. As a subject matter expert, he has provided his technical expertise in multiple DARPA, IARPA and National Security Space programs. His focus areas are Microelectronics Obsolescence, State of the Art Microelectronics Acquisition, State of the Practice Microelectronics Sustainment, Advanced Packaging, Supply Chain Risk Management, Semiconductor Reliability, Semiconductor Reverse Engineering and Semiconductor Radiation Effects.
In 2016, Mr. Marrujo was selected as DMEA’s Chief Strategy Officer, directly supporting the DMEA directorate. In this position, Mr. Marrujo works with DMEA senior leadership to define and represent the integrated DMEA message and strategic path forward for future engagements.
Latest Episodes
Admiral James Bynum joins host Daniel Marrujo for an extraordinary deep dive into a life defined by service, leadership, and transformation. From his early fascination with aviation to commanding F/A-18 squadrons, serving on Capitol Hill with Senator John McCain, and working within the White House Military Office, Admiral Bynum’s journey charts how purpose and adaptability can span from cockpit to Congress to the frontier of artificial intelligence. His story offers a window into the evolution of warfare, the complexity of decision-making, and the enduring human element at the center of it all.
In this episode, Daniel and Admiral Bynum explore how technology is reshaping the landscape of defense and leadership. The conversation moves from the intensity of night carrier landings to the intricate world of military policy and the growing power of AI-driven decision systems. Along the way, Admiral Bynum reflects on the challenges of transition—how a lifelong commitment to national service evolves after retirement, and what it means to lead through both uncertainty and innovation.
Ultimately, Admiral Bynum leaves listeners with a vision for the future: warfare executed at the speed of compute, where humans move from being in the loop to on it—trusting data, algorithms, and purpose-built systems to act with precision while preserving human judgment for when it matters most.
Danielle Casey, newly appointed President and CEO of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA), joins Daniel Marrujo on this episode of Micro Journeys to share her journey across economic development in Albuquerque, Sacramento, Scottsdale, and now Las Vegas. Danielle discusses her experiences with military innovation hubs, federal funding ecosystems, and regional economic strategies that have shaped her approach to leading communities, diversifying economies, and attracting business investments.
In this episode, Danielle dives into how cities can leverage their unique strengths while addressing challenges such as workforce limitations, infrastructure needs, and local resource constraints. She discusses strategies for aligning private industry, local government, and chambers of commerce, using Southern Nevada’s incentive programs, niche industries, and long-term relationship building as examples of effective economic development in action.
The solution, Danielle explains, lies in intentional community-building, thoughtful research, and strategic engagement with companies and partners to foster economic diversification and sustainable growth.
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Steve Crago, Director of the California DREAMS Hub, to discuss his remarkable career journey spanning marathons, microelectronics, and national defense innovation. From qualifying for the Boston Marathon to advancing computing architectures at USC’s Information Sciences Institute, Steve’s path reveals how personal discipline and professional vision intersect to shape both technology and leadership.
The conversation dives into the formation of the Microelectronics Commons Hubs under the CHIPS and Science Act, highlighting California DREAMS’ focus on radio frequency technology. Steve explains how decades of collaboration across Southern California’s universities, defense primes, and innovators have led to a hub built on trust, competition, and cooperation. At the heart of this transformation is Mosis 2.0, a pioneering platform designed to give innovators—from small startups to defense partners—access to critical fabrication and prototyping capabilities.
Ultimately, Steve shows how the DREAMS Hub and its partnerships are ensuring that U.S. microelectronics innovation remains strong and sustainable beyond 2028, by fostering collaboration, building infrastructure, and opening access to those who need it most.
