PsiQuantum announced the appointment of three new members to its Government Advisory Board, adding senior expertise spanning U.S. diplomacy, defense acquisition, and semiconductor policy. The new appointees—Stephen E. Biegun, Ellen Lord, and Chris Miller—join existing board member Bob Sharp. The company said the expanded board will support engagement with public-sector partners as governments increase focus on quantum technologies.
PsiQuantum positioned the advisory board expansion as part of its effort to align quantum computing development with national security, economic competitiveness, and public policy objectives. The new members bring experience across foreign policy, defense industrial base management, and global technology competition, areas that increasingly intersect with quantum research and deployment.
The Government Advisory Board is expected to advise PsiQuantum on public-sector collaboration as it advances its photonic quantum computing roadmap. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Palo Alto, PsiQuantum focuses on scaling fault-tolerant, utility-scale quantum computers using photonics and semiconductor manufacturing techniques.
- Stephen E. Biegun served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and previously held senior roles at the White House, Congress, and The Boeing Company.
- Ellen Lord served as U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment from 2017 to 2020 and previously led Textron Systems.
- Chris Miller is a professor at Tufts University and author of Chip War, which examines global competition in semiconductor technologies.
- Bob Sharp, a retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral, previously led the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and remains on the board.
“Quantum computing will deliver transformational outcomes across the whole of society, and every part and level of government has an essential role to play,” said Prof. Jeremy O’Brien, PsiQuantum co-founder and chief executive officer. “We are grateful that such experienced and well-respected leaders share our commitment to deliver the world’s first utility-scale quantum computers in close collaboration with the public sector.”
🌐 Analysis
Governments in the U.S. and allied markets are increasing investment and policy attention around quantum computing, particularly where it intersects with national security, supply chains, and advanced manufacturing. PsiQuantum’s advisory board expansion mirrors similar moves by quantum competitors seeking deeper alignment with defense, intelligence, and industrial policy stakeholders as large-scale quantum programs move closer to deployment.