It was a national security program with no public face. I was recruited into it because I solved a fundamental computer science problem they were deeply interested in. I did not get my extensive supercomputing experience in academia. It was a great experience if you just wanted to do hardcore computer science research, which at the time I did.

There are several VCs with knowledge of the program. It is obscure but has cred with people that know about it. I’ve raised millions of dollars off the back of my involvement.

A lot of really cool computer science research has happened inside the government. I think it is a bit less these days but people still underestimate it.

I'm not surprised that the government does great research, but I wonder how much good does that research does, if it's unpublished and disappears after budget cuts.