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 Jonny Pellish, a lifelong explorer of physics, microelectronics, NASA missions, and federal policy. Jonny traces a remarkable path—from philosophy major to particle physics researcher, to NASA radiation effects engineer, to shaping national technology policy on Capitol Hill and inside the Executive Office of the President. Through stories that connect particle accelerators, cosmic rays, mission assurance, and Congress, Jonny reveals how unexpected moments and open doors shaped a career at the center of space exploration and government.
The conversation dives deeper into the core theme that defines Jonny’s journey: how technical expertise and policy insight are no longer separate worlds. Jonny discusses the systemic challenges facing space systems, microelectronics, and national research and development (R&D) priorities, as well as how impedance mismatch between R&D and policy spheres can stall innovation. He highlights why engineers must understand policy, and why policymakers must learn to speak the language of technology if the U.S. is to maintain leadership in space and microelectronics.
Ultimately, this episode points to a clear solution: progress happens when technical minds step beyond the lab and into the institutions that shape national priorities. Jonny demonstrates how bridging engineering, legislation, and executive strategy leads to more resilient systems, stronger programs, and a healthier long-term space ecosystem.
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with former NASA astronaut and engineer Nicole Stott for an expansive and deeply human conversation about curiosity, resilience, and what it truly means to work—and live—in extreme environments. From her early love of flight and engineering to hands-on work with the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, Nicole traces the micro decisions, mentors, and moments of doubt that quietly shaped an extraordinary career in space exploration.
The conversation goes beyond the mechanics of spaceflight to explore the mental and emotional demands of astronaut training, the power of persistence after rejection, and how creativity and humanity remain essential even in the most technical settings. Nicole reflects on everything from underwater training and spacewalks to painting with watercolors in orbit, offering insight into how astronauts adapt, cope, and thrive when there is no option to quit or escape. Ultimately, the episode reframes space exploration as a mirror for life on Earth. Nicole shares how her experiences in orbit inspired her post-NASA mission through the Space for Art Foundation, emphasizing a powerful message: we are not passengers on this planet—we are crewmates, responsible for one another and the future we’re building together.
In this special multi-guest edition of Micro Journeys, Daniel Marrujo brings together three powerful voices shaping the world from radically different angles: epidemiologist Dr. Dan Janies, semiconductor executive Thomas Sonderman, and retired A-10 pilot Dave “Trashman” Hicks. Across public health, national security, and combat aviation, each guest offers a compelling look at the hidden systems that shape modern life—and the micro decisions that change everything. From the real origins of pandemics, to America’s fight for chip independence, to life-or-death missions above the battlefield, this episode captures the grit, intelligence, and resilience behind today’s most consequential challenges.
As the conversations deepen, listeners learn how invisible vulnerabilities—whether in global health surveillance, foundational microelectronics, or military operations—can lead to catastrophic consequences when ignored. Each guest traces the root causes inside their domain: zoonotic spillover events no one was watching, domestic manufacturing gaps decades in the making, and combat environments where the smallest misstep can mean an irreversible loss of life. The stories are riveting, the stakes are high, and the lessons reveal how fragile—and how fixable—our systems can be.
The episode ultimately shows that preparedness, innovation, and adaptability are the keys to navigating an unpredictable world. Whether through scientific insight, industrial reinvention, or military precision, the solutions all point toward the same truth: real progress begins with taking action before the crisis arrives.
