Former Top Military Leader Enters Private Sector with Politically Connected Firm
Retired Gen. CQ Brown Jr., who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff before being dismissed by President Trump last February, has joined the autonomous systems company Powerus. The firm is notable for its financial backing from the president's sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., as it pursues contracts with the Pentagon.
Powerus announced Tuesday that Brown will serve as an executive-in-residence and senior adviser. In this capacity, the former Air Force general will provide guidance on defense strategy, the deployment of autonomous systems, and forging national security partnerships. The company stated his involvement is intended to solidify its position in developing advanced AI and battlefield technologies.
Strategic Move Amid Defense Industry Shifts
"Throughout my career, I've seen how the pace of technological change determines who leads and who falls behind," Brown said in a statement provided by the company. "The companies that will define the future of American defense are the ones building real capability right now, not waiting for permission. Powerus is doing exactly that. I'm joining because accelerating change to advance American autonomous systems isn't optional; it's a must."
Brown's departure from the Pentagon last year was defended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who argued on Fox News that Brown was "not the right man for the moment." He was replaced by Gen. Dan Caine. The move to a Trump-family-backed enterprise creates a notable intersection of recent military leadership, political connections, and the competitive defense technology sector.
Powerus, co-founded by former U.S. Army special operations veterans, manufactures drone systems for both military and commercial applications. The company recently announced a merger with Aureus Greenway Holdings, a golf course operator, with Powerus continuing as the surviving entity under the new name "Powerus Corporation."
Firm Embeds Military Expertise in Development
Brett Velicovich, a Powerus co-founder and former special operations intelligence analyst, welcomed Brown's appointment. "His experience means that the operational realities of the battlefield and the strategic vision of U.S. defense leadership are now embedded in everything we build," Velicovich said on Thursday.
The development occurs against a backdrop of ongoing political and policy debates within the Trump administration. The president has recently shifted focus on several fronts, including a move away from regime change toward deal-making with Iran, a strategy detailed in a recent analysis. Furthermore, the administration continues to navigate complex immigration policies, having recently sworn in a new Homeland Security chief amid controversy.
Brown's career transition from the nation's highest military office to a private firm with direct links to the First Family underscores the increasingly fluid boundaries between government service, political networks, and the defense industrial base. It also highlights the strategic importance both the military and private sector are placing on autonomous warfare technology.
