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, Daniel Marrujo sits down with Schoeller Porter, President of Nimbus Services, to explore how his unconventional journey from aerospace engineering to big data, emulation, and defense infrastructure is reshaping the future of microelectronics. With a deep-rooted curiosity in technology and an early passion for problem-solving, Schoeller discusses how foundational experiences—from working at Wolfram Research to leading projects with the F-35 program—prepared him to address some of the Department of Defense’s most pressing challenges.
The conversation dives into how Nimbus has spearheaded innovations in trusted cloud environments, digital twin modeling, and emulation infrastructure that support U.S. national security. Schoeller shares key insights into building systems for data traceability and reliability at scale, the evolution of secure collaborative design, and how digital tools are accelerating defense acquisition, sustainment, and mission readiness.
By linking computation with mission success, Nimbus is helping to future-proof defense platforms and sustainment systems. Through pilot programs with DARPA, AFRL, and the F-35 Joint Program Office, Nimbus has enabled a paradigm shift in how critical microelectronics are modeled, validated, and deployed.
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.
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.
