Micro Journeys: The Pulse of What’s Next

In this episode of TSS Podcast: Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Corrine Kramer to explore the intersection of national security, data architecture, and technological transformation. From her academic roots in physics and astronomy to her work across the defense ecosystem — including IDA, the Congressional Budget Office, and now Palantir — Kramer shares a journey shaped by one central question: how do we make better decisions with the data we already have? The conversation spans intelligence failures, battlefield operations, semiconductor supply chains, and the structural inefficiencies that still define large parts of government.At the heart of the discussion is a powerful tension: the United States does not suffer from a lack of information — it suffers from fragmentation. Kramer explains how Palantir emerged from the post-9/11 realization that agencies possessed the intelligence needed to prevent catastrophe but lacked the connective infrastructure to act. Whether in combatant commands, acquisition offices, shipbuilding, or microelectronics ecosystems, the core challenge remains the same — disconnected systems, manual processes, and institutional inertia. The episode dives into how data layering, ontologies, AI integration, and forward-deployed engineering are reshaping how operators, analysts, and decision-makers interact with complex environments in real time.The solution, as Kramer frames it, is not simply better dashboards — it is living systems. When data is unified, trusted, and continuously updated, decision-makers move from reactive to proactive. The future belongs to organizations willing to evolve beyond static reports and PowerPoint into dynamic, interoperable knowledge infrastructure.What You’ll Discover in This Episode(05:18) – The post-9/11 insight that shaped Palantir: the intelligence existed, but agencies weren’t connected.(12:36) – How operators in the field can now build directly on top of integrated data layers.(23:12) – Why six-month reporting cadences and manual phone calls create unacceptable risk.(33:21) – The breakthrough in secure data sharing across industries like shipbuilding and semiconductors.(39:33) – The supply chain visibility challenge — and how real-time alternatives can emerge when data ecosystems mature.(45:39) – Why continuing to “run government on PowerPoint” is no longer sustainable.

James Chew joins Daniel Marrujo on Micro Journeys to trace a career that spans Cal Poly’s hands-on engineering culture, the golden age of aerospace in Lancaster, California, senior leadership roles inside the Pentagon, and now a pivotal role at Intel during one of the most consequential semiconductor inflection points in U.S. history. From revitalizing rocket propulsion programs to navigating billion-dollar defense budgets and pioneering emulation capabilities inside the Department of Defense, James reflects on the throughline that shaped his career: curiosity, integrity, and relentless follow-through. The conversation bridges government, commercial technology, and national security, offering a rare insider’s view into how decisions are actually made — and how they ripple across industries.At the center of the discussion is a hard truth: the defense industrial base has grown complacent. James pulls back the curtain on cost-plus contracting, budget politics, and the widening gap between commercial innovation and government acquisition. He contrasts the speed and accountability of Silicon Valley with the slow-moving bureaucracy of legacy defense systems, making the case that electronics — and specifically Intel’s renewed focus on leading-edge manufacturing, emulation, and customer-first engineering — represent a generational opportunity to reset the foundation.The solution, as James sees it, is simple but difficult: restore integrity, empower engineers, return to fundamentals, and lead with technical excellence. If the United States wants to secure its future, it must rebuild its electronics leadership with urgency and ownership.What You’ll Discover in This Episode(00:55) — How Cal Poly’s “curious, not judgmental” engineering culture shaped James’ work ethic and leadership philosophy.(06:25) — Inside a Cold War missile decoy program and what it taught him about innovation under pressure.(08:20) — Turning annual 20% budget cuts into 30% increases by understanding how government money really moves.(13:24) — The birth of Department of Defense emulation capabilities and why “emulate before you fabricate” changes everything.(23:58) — Why a Ford F-150 runs on 150 million lines of code — and what that says about modern defense systems.(26:04) — “Leadership leads to complacency.” How Intel is rebuilding its edge and positioning itself to lead again.Let’s ConnectDaniel MarrujoJames ChewTSS Website

In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Dr. Mark Lewis for a sweeping conversation that traces the arc of a career spanning academia, the Pentagon, and now applied national security research. From serving as Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force to leading modernization efforts in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Lewis reflects on the pivotal moments that reshaped his trajectory, including America’s struggle to maintain technological superiority in hypersonics, artificial intelligence, and microelectronics. His journey reveals what happens when innovation stalls, competitors accelerate, and leadership must step in to reset the course.At the heart of the discussion is a sobering reality: the United States pioneered many of the technologies now reshaping modern warfare, from hypersonics to AI, yet allowed its edge to erode. Lewis details how underinvestment, aging test infrastructure, outdated microelectronics strategies, and manufacturing complacency created gaps that peer competitors exploited. He unpacks the internal cultural, structural, and technical challenges inside the Department of Defense, from bridging operators and technologists to confronting the limits of “trusted foundry” models and the hype surrounding artificial intelligence.The solution, Lewis argues, lies in disciplined reinvestment: rebuilding test infrastructure, returning to the commercial technology curve, modernizing manufacturing, and empowering leaders who make their teams successful. Technological dominance is not inherited, it is sustained through deliberate action.What You’ll Discover in This Episode(01:00) — Why Mark Lewis once planned to “lecture until I died at the podium”, and what changed his path forever.(13:46) — The moment he realized the United States had fallen behind China and Russia in hypersonics.(24:20) — The Alpha Dog Trials; when an AI pilot defeated a human pilot, and what it revealed about self-preservation and machine learning.(46:18) — How America’s “trusted foundry” model unintentionally pushed defense microelectronics generations behind commercial technology.(55:13) — Why Purdue’s Applied Research Institute is focused on hypersonics, microelectronics, infrastructure, nuclear power, and energetic materials, and how applied research bridges the Valley of Death.Let’s ConnectDaniel MarrujoMark LewisTSS Website

Rory McInerney’s journey mirrors the rise of modern computing itself. From growing up in Ireland to becoming a senior leader at Intel during some of the most transformative decades in semiconductor history, Rory shares how curiosity, risk-taking, and timing shaped a 30-year career at the center of global technology. Along the way, he reflects on immigration, innovation, and what it truly means to build something that lasts.In this episode, Rory dives deeper into the evolution of semiconductors—from memory chips and personal computers to data centers, cloud computing, and today’s AI-driven world. He offers an insider’s perspective on Intel’s growth, the challenges of scaling advanced manufacturing, and why semiconductor supply chains have become a matter of national security. Ultimately, Rory’s story highlights a core lesson: meaningful technological progress is rarely driven by a single breakthrough, but by decades of persistence, collaboration, and the willingness to confront hard constraints head-on.What You’ll Discover in This Episode1:00 - Rory’s early life in Ireland, his move to the Netherlands, and how his first exposure to semiconductor research shaped his career trajectory.3:35 - The emotional and professional risks behind immigrating to the United States and entering Silicon Valley in the early 1990s on an H-1B visa.12:47 - Why early work that feels small—like flight simulators and PC architecture—can later become foundational to world-changing technology.16:35 - How the shift from on-premise computing to cloud infrastructure transformed the tech industry and enabled today’s AI economy.29:39 - Rory’s role in shaping early thinking behind the CHIPS Initiative and why semiconductor supply chains are now a national security issue.43:33 - Where Rory sees the next frontier in computing—from AI inference and photonics to space-based data centers and post-Moore’s Law innovation. Let’s ConnectDaniel MarrujoRory McInerneyTSS Website

In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with David Harris to explore how endurance, curiosity, and systems-level thinking shaped a career that spans elite athletics, financial regulation, global markets, and emerging technology. From an unlikely start as a walk-on collegiate runner to leadership roles inside the SEC, NASDAQ, and the London Stock Exchange Group, Harris shares how persistence—and knowing when to adapt—became a recurring theme throughout his life.The conversation dives deeper into Harris’s evolution from market structure and electronic trading into blockchain, data governance, and ultimately the founding of Manetu. As AI, automation, and data sharing accelerate, Harris unpacks a growing problem: sensitive data is being shared, copied, and used in ways that neither individuals nor organizations can fully see or control—especially as agentic AI systems begin making decisions on their behalf.At its core, this episode presents a solution rooted in trust and control: treating data as a granular, permissioned asset, shared only when needed, for a specific purpose, and withdrawn when that purpose ends, so people, companies, and governments can safely operate in an increasingly automated world.What You’ll Discover in This Episode(02:41) — How a teenage crush led David Harris to cross-country running and a mindset built on endurance(05:31) — Why “every day can’t be a race” and how struggle laid the foundation for long-term success(17:04) — The “market as a terrarium” analogy that explains balance, incentives, and ecosystem design(21:05) — What blockchain actually changed about ownership, markets, and digital assets(34:29) — Why most people unknowingly lose control of their personal data—and why it matters(43:26) — How agentic AI introduces a new data risk companies aren’t prepared forLet’s ConnectDaniel MarrujoDavid HarrisTSS Website

In this episode of Micro Journeys, Daniel Marrujo sits down with John Hill to explore a career shaped by curiosity, large-scale science, and the pursuit of understanding matter at its most fundamental level. From Hill’s early fascination with space and science in England to his leadership at Brookhaven National Laboratory, the conversation traces how passion, global ambition, and national-scale research converge to drive technological and scientific progress. Together, they unpack how national laboratories quietly underpin much of the innovation that fuels modern life.The discussion dives deeply into the role Brookhaven plays in advancing synchrotron science, microelectronics, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, particle physics, and space radiation research. Hill explains how tools like the National Synchrotron Light Source II enable scientists to see inside materials at the atomic scale, non-destructively analyze microchips, and accelerate discoveries across biology, energy, and electronics, while also revealing how AI and quantum technologies are reshaping how science itself is done.Ultimately, the episode reveals how Brookhaven’s mission bridges basic research and real-world impact: creating capabilities too complex for industry alone, transferring discoveries into the economy, and positioning the United States at the forefront of future technologies.What You’ll Discover in This Episode00:44 – John Hill’s journey from England to Brookhaven National Laboratory04:03 – What a synchrotron is and why it matters to science and industry07:17 – How the NSLS-I changed the game with 10,000x brighter X-rays11:10 – How Brookhaven is advancing quantum computing through materials science18:52 – The role of AI in transforming how science is done28:07 – Recreating the early universe and probing the mystery of mass35:54 – Simulating space radiation and protecting electronics and astronautsLet’s ConnectDaniel MarrujoJohn HillTSS Website

In this episode of Micro Journeys, Daniel Marrujo sits down with Rear Admiral Lorin Selby to explore a career shaped by resilience, curiosity, and technological foresight. What begins as a childhood dream of becoming an astronaut takes an unexpected turn, ultimately leading Selby into the silent service of submarines and a decades-long journey at the intersection of leadership, engineering, and national security. The conversation highlights how early setbacks can become catalysts for purpose and long-term impact.Selby reflects on his progression through the U.S. Navy submarine force, from nuclear engineering and command at sea to senior roles shaping acquisition, research, and development. Along the way, he shares candid insights into the realities of leadership, the rigor of the nuclear Navy, and the systemic challenges that slow the adoption of critical technologies. The discussion expands into the future of warfare, unmanned systems, digital engineering, and the growing need for speed and agility in defense innovation.Ultimately, the episode underscores a clear solution: aligning technology, capital, and decision-making to move faster than adversaries. By embracing digital tools, empowering experimentation, and leveraging both public and private investment, Selby argues that the Navy—and the nation—can maintain its strategic edge in an increasingly competitive world.What You’ll Discover in This Episode(01:30) How losing the dream of becoming an astronaut redirected Selby toward submarines and nuclear engineering(05:26) What it takes to earn dolphins and lead inside the demanding culture of the nuclear Navy(17:37) Why command at sea is as much about culture and trust as it is about technical mastery(31:54) The flaws in traditional acquisition processes—and how digital engineering can reduce risk(41:13) Why speed of technology adoption has become a national security imperative(48:06) How unmanned systems and the “small, agile, many” strategy could define the future of warfareLet’s ConnectDaniel MarrujoReal Admiral Lorin SelbyTSS Website

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.What You’ll Discover in This Episode[00:53] How a philosophy and classical languages major accidentally got pulled into physics—and the conversation that changed Jonny’s career forever. [12:04] The surprising role muons and early particle accelerator experiments played in steering Jonny toward radiation effects engineering. [20:40] How work with NASA, DOE, and university labs converged into a full-time role supporting engineering and mission assurance on major space missions. [31:39] What it really means to be a radiation effects engineer for missions like ICESat-2, MAVEN, and OSIRIS-REx. [35:54] Jonny’s unexpected leap into Congress—and the intense, behind-the-scenes realities of negotiating the CHIPS & Science Act. [1:11:21] Two of the biggest technological challenges Jonny believes will define the future of space exploration.Let’s ConnectDaniel MarrujoJonny PellishTSS Website