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, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Carl “Schaef” Schaefer to reflect on a remarkable career that spans combat missions, Pentagon leadership, and shaping the future of U.S. airpower. From the shock of having a missile locked on his aircraft, to the grind of 3 a.m. wake-ups and 13-hour days, Schaefer shares both the adrenaline and the sacrifices of a life in service. His stories carry lessons on resilience, responsibility, and the unrelenting pace of military operations.
The conversation dives deeper into the transformation of the Air Force — from Cold War tensions to the rise of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence. Lt. Gen. Schaefer opens up about balancing personal struggles, such as nearly failing out of the Academy and leaving a newborn child for a year-long deployment, with professional triumphs, like commanding multinational missions with dozens of aircraft. At its core, this episode asks how America can maintain military dominance in a rapidly shifting technological landscape.
The solution, Schaefer emphasizes, lies in adaptability: learning fast, leading with humility, and embracing innovation — whether in personal growth or national defense.
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Tsu-Jae King Liu, President of the National Academy of Engineering and trailblazer in semiconductor research. From her unexpected career pivot away from medicine to her pivotal role in shaping the future of microelectronics, Liu shares a remarkable journey filled with breakthroughs that continue to influence how we live, work, and communicate.
The conversation dives into her groundbreaking contributions to FinFET technology, the transistor innovation that powers today’s AI revolution, smartphones, and supercomputers. Liu also unpacks the challenges of bridging the gap between academic research and industry, the looming energy demands of AI, and how the Microelectronics Commons Program aims to secure U.S. technological competitiveness. At the core of her insights is the urgent call for a strong engineering workforce and smarter innovation pipelines.
Ultimately, Liu highlights how collaboration, disruptive innovation, and an educated workforce can ensure that the U.S. not only keeps pace with global competitors but leads the way in defining the future of technology.
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with John Costello, a seasoned executive with an incredible journey that spans from a blue-collar upbringing in Chicago to leading global aerospace and defense initiatives at Microchip Technology. John’s life reads like a movie script—navigating family ties to organized crime, writing a memoir titled Executive Hoodlum, influencing semiconductor policy at the highest levels of government, and playing a pivotal role in programs that shape U.S. national security.
John shares the evolution of his career, the lessons learned from a gritty start, and how he blended technical expertise with political savvy to impact the semiconductor industry and defense ecosystem. From close calls abroad to policy wins in Washington, this conversation uncovers the resilience and strategic thinking required to thrive in both corporate boardrooms and government halls.
As we dig deeper, John reflects on balancing a complex personal history with professional ambitions and the critical work Microchip is doing today to strengthen the defense supply chain, pioneer high-performance space computing, and back up vital systems like GPS. This episode is a rare look into how personal grit and professional innovation intersect on a global stage.
