Terra Industries has appointed former SpaceX executive Ben MacWilliams as vice president of strategy, as the defense technology company expands its autonomous security systems across Africa and other markets in the Global South.
MacWilliams joins Terra from SpaceX, where he served as director of Starlink Market Access, overseeing the satellite internet service’s regulatory and market expansion across all 54 African countries. He helped launch Starlink in more than 20 African markets, working with government leaders, regulators and ministers.
Before taking responsibility for Africa, MacWilliams led Starlink market access across the Middle East and Central Eurasia, securing the first low-Earth-orbit broadband operating licenses for the service in both regions.
At Terra, MacWilliams will oversee market entry, licensing strategy and government partnerships as the company seeks to deploy its autonomous defense systems in new markets.
“The next phase for us at Terra is getting our technology to governments that need it,” said Nathan Nwachuku, Terra’s co-founder and chief executive officer. “That means licenses, regulators, and relationships across dozens of markets at once. Ben has done this at the highest level.”
MacWilliams said his experience expanding Starlink across Africa had reinforced the importance of sovereign defense capabilities for governments seeking to protect people, infrastructure and natural resources.
The appointment comes as Terra accelerates its expansion following a $52 million seed financing round. The company has also opened its first international office in London and plans to open Pax-2, a new manufacturing facility in Ghana, in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Founded in 2024, Terra develops integrated air, land and maritime security systems powered by ArtemisOS, a software platform designed to coordinate large-scale security operations.
The company targets critical sectors including energy, mineral resources, urban infrastructure, maritime assets, border security and counterterrorism operations, positioning itself as a defense technology provider focused on Africa and the wider Global South.