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
In this episode of Micro Journeys Inside Access, host Daniel Marrujo speaks with Private First Class David Pomeroy, 173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S. Army at African Lion 2026 about an amazing piece of technology they are developing to keep soldiers out of harm’s way while breaching a difficult situation. Throughout the conversation, PFC Pomeroy explains how the unit built an off-road drone, detailing the design and intended functionality.
The episode dives into the drone’s capabilities and explains how, when paired with autonomous vehicles, it can help soldiers in a tough spot. With this innovative tech, PFC Pomeroy’s team hopes to eliminate operator risk and operator faults to keep soldiers out of the breach and safe.
The prototype design hinges on advancing technology and basic principles. Built on a repurposed RC car with a 3D-printed frame and rail system, the device is designed to carry explosive charges to a wire obstacle, allowing soldiers to conduct a breach from a safe distance. The RC car serves as the base that holds the 3D-printed railings and their connectors. Right now, the device is best suited for mechanized units and still needs manual operation. but the idea is to mass-produce the drones and send them out on separate missions.
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo speaks with Lieutenant General Milford H. Beagle, Jr. (U.S. Army, Retired) to discuss his book, When the Map Runs Out, his 35-year Army career capped by command of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, and the leadership lessons he carried throughout it all. Drawing on his experiences, he unpacks what it takes to become a leader and what it means to follow when uncertainty is inevitable. He tells Dan about his time at Ranger School, his experience serving two tours with the 10th Mountain Division, and the coaching work he’s doing post-retirement.
When Dan asks about the inspiration behind his book, Lt. Gen. Beagle, Jr. (Ret.) explains his passion for leadership and the desire to speak on it from a different perspective. He shares a pattern he observed while commanding at Fort Leavenworth that led him to realize just how many senior officers were struggling with uncertainty. He compared their experience to a map running out, explaining that when plans and frameworks stop matching the terrain in front of the leader, deeper problems arise.
The map metaphor became the foundation of his book. Throughout its pages, he shares his solution for finding clarity and the tools leaders need to move forward: leaning on peers, staying honest, and anchoring decisions to purpose rather than rank or title.
The Micro Journeys Inside Access podcast continues its live coverage at African Lion 2026. This time, host Daniel Marrujo chats with Lieutenant Colonel Vernon Logan – SETAF-AF Communications Directorate, to learn more about the communication efforts behind the event and AFRICOM.
People tend to think of a communications team as the guys with the cell phones or the satellite communications. But as Col. Logan shares, there’s so much more to it behind the scenes. The team at SETAF-AF serves as the communications backbone for everything happening at African Lion. From cellular coverage to satellite communications, he reveals just how much planning goes into keeping thousands of participants connected across Morocco.
Along with technologies like drones, surveillance, and reconnaissance, the SETAF-AF team is responsible for network protection, ensuring everyone, on-site and beyond, remains connected. As the conversation deepens, he walks through details, such as the tools used to map cellular coverage, the growing role of satellite communications like Starlink, and the push toward next-generation capabilities—quantum, encryption, and interoperable systems—needed to keep pace with partners across Africa and Europe. They even discuss the humble side of communication, how real-time translation technology bridges the language gap, and the role cybersecurity plays in protecting everything from radios to email.
