Disrupting 150 Years of Tech: The Ideal Switch and the Rise of Menlo Micro
From cutting-edge defense systems to reshaping global energy infrastructure, Russ Garcia’s career has been anything but ordinary. In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Russ, now CEO of Menlo Micro, to trace the arc of a career that began in laser labs and radar systems and now finds him leading […]
Inside Global Strike: Mark “WX” Weatherington on Deterrence, Bombers, and the Future of Warfare
From combat flights over Afghanistan to overseeing two-thirds of the U.S. nuclear triad, retired Lt. Gen. Mark Weatherington has shaped some of the most critical defense strategies of our time. In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Weatherington for a wide-ranging conversation on military innovation, deterrence theory, and the operational […]
Bridging Worlds: How Michael Hsieh Turns Innovation Into Diplomacy
From aspiring Air Force Academy cadet to DARPA program manager and global public diplomacy speaker, Michael Hsieh’s journey is anything but conventional. In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Hsieh to trace the unexpected path that led him from quantum computing labs to shaping innovation culture around the world. With […]
Engineering America’s Comeback: Greg Van Dyk on Fusion, Chips, and National Security
In this compelling episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Greg Van Dyk—a visionary technologist, fusion energy entrepreneur, and retired Air Force leader—at the HEART Conference. From his early life on a Wisconsin dairy farm to directing billion-dollar defense acquisition programs and shaping the national conversation on microelectronics and fusion energy, Greg’s […]
Why Microelectronics Fail in Space—and What Ken LaBel Did About It
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Ken LaBel, one of the most respected figures in the world of radiation effects for space and defense electronics. With a decades-long career that spans NASA, missile defense, and strategic radiation-hardened electronics, Ken shares the moments that defined his professional path—from helping prove […]
Rewriting the Rules: Jack Kang on RISC-V, SiFive, and the Future of Microelectronics
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Jack Kang, SVP of Business Development, Customer Experience, and Corporate Marketing at SiFive, to explore the fascinating trajectory of his career—from building CPUs at Marvell to helping lead the charge on RISC-V technology at SiFive. Jack shares how his early education and hands-on […]
The Future Of Warfare Depends on Digital Twins with Schoeller Porter
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 […]
From the Lab to the Warfighter: Dr. Matt Casto on Securing America’s Microelectronics
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 […]
How Microelectronics Commons is Fast-Tracking U.S. Innovation with Stephanie Lin
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 […]
Fighting Evil with Intel: Jerry Reimers on the Power of Identity Intelligence
Jerry Reimers’ career journey spans from an unexpected pivot away from medicine to becoming a pivotal figure in U.S. military law, intelligence, and national security policy. In this episode of Micro Journeys, Jerry recounts how a scheduling mishap led him to political science and eventually into law, which became the launchpad for his time in […]