Austen Salusbury is a former British Army officer who served in the Welsh Guards. He brings over 20 years of operational and strategic expertise to Q-Branch as a trusted advisor on transatlantic defense partnerships and innovation. Having settled in Austin following his military service, he brings a unique perspective that bridges UK, US, and NATO cultural and operational gaps, in turn accelerating defense technology commercialization and market entry.

Austen saw operational service as a junior infantry officer in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan and was seconded at an early stage of his career to the Royal Household to serve as an equerry to a senior member of the royal family. 

Following multiple deployments to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Austen was seconded as an analyst to the UK Ministry of Defence’s intelligence staff. Thereafter, his longstanding interest in exploring novel solutions to military operational challenges was sparked after attending the UK military’s technical staff training and completion a tour with Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), a secondment working with some of the UK’s most talented scientists. 

Following command at various levels, he has since served continuously in key international military cooperation and defense diplomacy roles in the US and France, in which he has carried forward his defense technology expertise and championed the case for strengthening military alliances through greater defense industrial cooperation.

‍