Micro Journeys: The Pulse of What’s Next
Micro Journeys: The Pulse of What’s Next
Podcast Description
Welcome to Micro Journeys, the podcast that puts you on the front lines of U.S. defense innovation—one remarkable story at a time. Hosted by Daniel Marrujo of Trusted Strategic Solutions, this series delivers a behind-the-scenes look at the trailblazers who’ve shaped the national security landscape through microelectronics, advanced technology, and strategic leadership.From national security engagements and global conflict zones to cutting-edge technologies and federal innovation hubs, each episode dives into the pivotal experiences of defense insiders, military veterans, technologists, and policymakers who’ve helped the United States stay ahead of the curve. Guests include elite voices ranging from elite military brass to programs such as those leading the microelectronics commons initiative which is leading a billion dollar Department of Defense investments. Whether it’s fielding AI-integrated defense systems, reverse-engineering critical chips for legacy aircraft, or standing up national policy at the White House, these are the real stories of people solving America’s toughest problems.In every episode, you’ll get deep technical storytelling from inside the U.S. defense apparatus, powerful leadership lessons forged under pressure, and rare strategic insight into areas like semiconductor policy, digital twin technology, quantum and cybersecurity, and public-private collaboration. It’s an authentic look at the people behind the programs—those driving the future of military readiness, defense technology, and the U.S. technology ecosystem.If you are in aerospace, dual use technology or worldwide technology investments, or just want a rare window into how the U.S. prepares for what's next, Micro Journeys is your go-to listen.Micro Journeys with Daniel Marrujo.A Trusted Strategic Solutions Original Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on national security innovation, microelectronics, and advanced technology, featuring episodes that delve into topics like AI-integrated defense systems, semiconductor policy, and the modernization challenges facing military technology. For example, conversations highlight the impacts of aging components on the B-52 bomber and public-private collaborations in defense.
Welcome to Micro Journeys, the podcast that puts you on the front lines of U.S. defense innovation—one remarkable story at a time.
Hosted by Daniel Marrujo of Trusted Strategic Solutions, this series delivers a behind-the-scenes look at the trailblazers who’ve shaped the national security landscape through microelectronics, advanced technology, and strategic leadership.
From national security engagements and global conflict zones to cutting-edge technologies and federal innovation hubs, each episode dives into the pivotal experiences of defense insiders, military veterans, technologists, and policymakers who’ve helped the United States stay ahead of the curve. Guests include elite voices ranging from elite military brass to programs such as those leading the microelectronics commons initiative which is leading a billion dollar Department of Defense investments. Whether it’s fielding AI-integrated defense systems, reverse-engineering critical chips for legacy aircraft, or standing up national policy at the White House, these are the real stories of people solving America’s toughest problems.
In every episode, you’ll get deep technical storytelling from inside the U.S. defense apparatus, powerful leadership lessons forged under pressure, and rare strategic insight into areas like semiconductor policy, digital twin technology, quantum and cybersecurity, and public-private collaboration. It’s an authentic look at the people behind the programs—those driving the future of military readiness, defense technology, and the U.S. technology ecosystem.
If you are in aerospace, dual use technology or worldwide technology investments, or just want a rare window into how the U.S. prepares for what’s next, Micro Journeys is your go-to listen.
Micro Journeys with Daniel Marrujo.
A Trusted Strategic Solutions Original Podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Rick Gottscho to explore a remarkable career that has spanned scientific curiosity, groundbreaking plasma research, and leading roles shaping the semiconductor industry. From childhood fascinations with the periodic table and science fiction, to hands-on experimental research at MIT, Rick’s journey showcases how a love of fundamental science can evolve into driving large-scale technological innovation.
The conversation delves into Rick’s pivotal work at Bell Labs, where he advanced understanding of plasma etching, helping lay foundations for modern semiconductor manufacturing. Rick discusses his transition to Lam Research, where he shifted from research to developing real-world products, underscoring his belief that the ultimate validation of innovation is when customers are willing to pay for it. They also unpack the future of semiconductor manufacturing, the promise of digital twins, and the urgent need for the U.S. to invest in domestic chip ecosystems amidst global competition.
By the end of the episode, Rick reveals how combining physics-informed machine learning with engineering expertise could accelerate semiconductor advances — ensuring smarter, faster, more reliable manufacturing in an increasingly data-driven world.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
- [00:50] How early exposure to the periodic table and Isaac Asimov’s ideas shaped Rick’s lifelong passion for science
- [06:45] The painstaking hands-on work of building lasers and instrumentation at MIT, and a pivotal mistake that unlocked years of stalled experiments
- [20:55] Why understanding plasma etching was critical to making chips — and how Rick’s research at Bell Labs mapped the electric fields and ion motion inside these mysterious environments
- [41:07] The risky pivot from Bell Labs to Lam Research, and why Rick wanted to be judged not by citations but by whether someone would pay for the products he helped create
- [54:21] Rick’s vision for digital twins in semiconductor manufacturing: merging physics, AI, and data to predict and optimize processes that today still rely on trial and error
- [1:05:23] What the U.S. needs to get right in the CHIPS Act to secure the future of semiconductors — and why keeping core ecosystems at home is as vital as building fabs
Let’s Connect:
Learn more about TSS: https://tss.llc/micro-journeys-podcast/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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