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 Hard 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 career embodies the intersection of technical depth, public policy, and relentless innovation. The conversation explores the multi-decade journey that brought him to the forefront of energy and manufacturing transformation.

Greg shares the behind-the-scenes story of his pivotal role in the Department of Energy’s analysis of alternatives for onshore microelectronics production—a foundational study that helped pave the way for the CHIPS Act. He details the political and industrial inflection points that drove renewed domestic investment in semiconductors and why that effort mirrors the critical need for progress in the fusion energy space. With clarity and vision, Greg breaks down the promise of fusion, the enabling technologies making it viable today, and the scaling and supply chain hurdles yet to be solved.

As he embarks on his second 20-year career, Greg’s goal is bold: build the world’s largest fusion supply chain company, deliver carbon-free energy everywhere, and revitalize U.S. manufacturing at a scale not seen since World War II. Tune in to hear a rare blend of engineering insight, defense strategy, and entrepreneurial drive aimed at solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode

• [01:50] How growing up on a dairy farm influenced Greg’s ethos of building and service
• [07:33] Why a nuclear engineering background led Greg into microelectronics policy and production
• [10:30] The fight to convince Congress and the Pentagon to invest in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing
• [17:54] How the CHIPS Act impacts not just fabs, but the entire American workforce and education system
• [27:31] Why fusion energy may be the global power solution for the next 200 years
• [40:46] The real fusion race: it's not just who builds first, but who can scale fastest globally
• [47:57] Greg’s next mission: building the largest fusion supply chain company in the world

Let’s Connect

• Daniel Marrujo on LinkedIn
• Greg Van Dyk
• TSS Website 

Learn more about TSS: https://tss.llc/micro-journeys-podcast/

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