Robert J. Szczerba, Ph.D., is a Pittsburgh-based tech executive focused on AI, robotics, automation and deep-tech commercialization. He is the founder and CEO of Carnegie Foundry, a $100 million venture studio partnered with Carnegie Mellon University, and has launched multiple venture-backed companies, including VoxEQ, Freespace Robotics and Thryve Labs. Szczerba spent 17 years as a Lockheed Martin executive and Senior Fellow Emeritus, the corporation’s highest technical distinction. His board and advisory experience includes Mars, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, UC Davis, Cornell and multiple early-stage tech companies. He has more than 150 patents and technical publications, and three degrees from the University of Notre Dame. Szczerba is also a proud autism dad, shaping his interest in caregiving, disability support and human-centered technology. Follow Szczerba for an operator’s view of how emerging technologies move from doubt to dependence across venture creation, advanced automation, regulated markets and deep-tech commercialization.