Terra Industries has appointed former SpaceX executive Ben MacWilliams as its Vice President of Strategy, in a move aimed at accelerating the company’s expansion into government markets across Africa and the wider Global South.
MacWilliams previously served as Director of Starlink Market Access at SpaceX, where he helped take the satellite internet service live in more than 20 African countries while working directly with presidents, regulators and ministers.
Terra said he will now oversee market entry, licensing strategy and government partnerships as the company seeks to deploy its autonomous defence systems in new markets.
“The next phase for us at Terra is getting our technology to governments that need it,” said co-founder and CEO Nathan Nwachuku, describing MacWilliams’ experience as valuable to the company’s next stage of growth.
Who is Ben MacWilliams?
Ben MacWilliams is a former senior SpaceX executive whose work focused on helping Starlink enter and operate in international markets.
At SpaceX, he was responsible for Starlink market access across all 54 African markets and helped launch the service in more than 20 countries.
His responsibilities involved engaging presidents, regulators and government ministers to secure the approvals required for Starlink’s operations.
Before leading the company’s African expansion, MacWilliams managed market access across the Middle East and Central Eurasia, where Terra says he secured the first low-Earth-orbit broadband operating licences in both regions.
How important is his appointment for the company?
MacWilliams’ appointment is significant because Terra’s expansion depends not only on developing defence technology but also on securing regulatory approvals and building relationships with governments.
Defence systems are particularly sensitive, meaning companies must navigate licensing, procurement and government partnership processes before their technologies can be deployed.
Terra expects MacWilliams to use his previous experience to help open these markets.
“Ben has done this at the highest level, and we’re proud to have him,” Nwachuku said.
MacWilliams also said he was excited to help “accelerate the mission to empower the Global South to safeguard its people, infrastructure, and natural resources.”
A Short Note on Terra Industries
Founded in 2024, Terra Industries is as a multi-domain systems and data intelligence company building a defence technology company for Africa and the Global South.
Its operations focus on critical sectors including energy, mineral resources, urban infrastructure, maritime assets, border security and counterterrorism.
The company develops integrated air, land and maritime systems connected through ArtemisOS, its unified software platform for large-scale security operations.
Terra has also expanded its international footprint, recently opening an office in London and announcing Pax-2, a manufacturing facility in Ghana scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Why This Matters
MacWilliams’ move to Terra reflects the company’s ambition to move beyond developing defence technology into securing large-scale government adoption of its systems across emerging markets.
The appointment comes shortly after Terra closed a $52 million seed round, giving it additional capital to expand its operations and manufacturing capacity.
For African governments, Terra’s focus is particularly relevant because its systems are designed for areas such as critical infrastructure, borders, natural resources and maritime security.
MacWilliams’ experience navigating African regulatory environments could therefore help the company translate its technology and funding into actual deployments and government partnerships across the Global South.
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