In 2016, Lex Keen, Technical Director at U.S. Cyber Command, foresaw an inevitable economic war with China, identifying the U.S. semiconductor supply chain as a critical vulnerability. His strategic vision, shaped by years of military service, drove him to found SecureFoundry upon leaving active duty. Keen’s mission was to secure America’s technological sovereignty by transforming academic innovations into deployable defense solutions, focusing on secure, specialized chips for military and intelligence systems. His foresight aimed to counter China’s rising technological threats, ensuring a robust, independent U.S. defense infrastructure.

SecureFoundry initially focused on commercializing university-developed intellectual property for the Department of Defense (DoD), licensing cutting-edge technologies to address defense capability gaps. By 2018, the company recognized that reliance on foreign foundries posed strategic risks. These facilities prioritized high-volume production, leaving low-volume, customized chips—essential for defense—costly and delayed. SecureFoundry pursued domestic manufacturing to create a resilient supply chain free from foreign interference, aligning with the need to counter China’s semiconductor ambitions.

In late 2018, the Pentagon presented SecureFoundry with a strategic opportunity. A Dutch company had developed a maskless multi-electron-beam (e-beam) direct write lithography system, ideal for low-volume, high-customization chip production. Facing bankruptcy, the Dutch Firm’s technology risked acquisition by adversarial investors, threatening U.S. security. SecureFoundry recognized the tool’s potential to produce cost-effective chips without masks, achieving resolutions at 22nm and below. Collaborating with the Dutch government, The Hague, and Northrop Grumman, SecureFoundry secured and domesticated the technology to the U.S. by 2022.

Northrop Grumman opened its advanced technology fab to support the installation and development of the multi e-beam system, leveraging its expertise in advanced microelectronics. SecureFoundry launched an intensive development campaign, partnering with leading R&D firms and building a skilled U.S. workforce. The focus was on optimizing the technology for flexible volume and various wafer sizes, while incorporating industry advancements, transforming Mapper’s nascent system into a robust production platform.

Today, SecureFoundry fills a critical gap in the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem, ensuring domestic production of advanced chips, supporting commercialization, and addressing obsolescent chip needs for legacy defense systems. Its efforts strengthen national security, countering China’s technological rise amid U.S.-China tensions. Aligned with initiatives like the CHIPS Act, SecureFoundry reduces reliance on foreign foundries and high-volume fabs, standing as a cornerstone of U.S. defense and emerging technologies, delivering specialized chips that maintain America’s technological edge in a volatile geopolitical landscape.