Quantum Academy
The IoniQ Consulting founder has worked in defense research, industry and quantum market intelligence, at Dstl, QinetiQ and Global Quantum Intelligence
CHICAGO, November 3, 2026 – Joe Spencer, a physicist who has advised the UK Ministry of Defence and the UK Space Agency on quantum technology, has joined Quantum Academy as a Senior Instructor. Spencer founded IoniQ Consulting, a science and engineering consultancy that specializes in defense, quantum and emerging technologies.
Spencer is part of Quantum Academy’s initial group of instructors. The Academy, which opened on October 2, 2026, trains and certifies professionals in post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and quantum technologies.
Through IoniQ, Spencer advises government, industry and investors on quantum technology strategy, technical feasibility and adoption. Much of that work concerns quantum sensing for defense and national security, including navigation, electromagnetic sensing and resilient positioning.
“Many people know Joe from his market analysis at Global Quantum Intelligence,” said Marin Ivezic, founder of Quantum Academy. “Fewer know how hands-on his career has been.”
Spencer began his career as a scientist at the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), working across the UK defense quantum technology program. There he helped sponsor and shape the technical output of about 40 PhD projects in quantum science and technology.
At QinetiQ, he led a laser physics team and worked on systems integration for large defense programs, including the UK’s DragonFire laser weapon. He has since supported quantum technology roadmaps and strategic assessments for the UK Ministry of Defence, and roadmap work for the UK Space Agency.
At Global Quantum Intelligence, a market intelligence firm that covers the quantum industry, Spencer carried out technical and commercial due diligence on quantum companies and technologies. In a 2026 market outlook presented to Quantum Security Defence, he argued that quantum sensing is much closer to practical deployment than large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computing.
Spencer holds a PhD in physics from the University of Southampton and is a chartered physicist and a chartered engineer. In 2016 he won the final of the Institute of Physics’ Three Minute Wonder contest, in which early-career researchers explain their work to a public audience in three minutes.
Professionals can book live online sessions on the Quantum Academy schedule, and teams can request private training at training@quantumacademy.com.
About Quantum Academy
Quantum Academy trains and certifies professionals in post-quantum cryptography and quantum technologies. It opened on October 2, 2026, with 68 courses in six domains and 11 certifications in four tracks. Quantum Academy is an education and certification brand of Post-Quantum Institute, a Delaware corporation. quantumacademy.com/
Quantum Academy certifications are private, professional credentials issued by Post-Quantum Institute. They are not government-issued licenses, accredited academic degrees, or academic credit, and earning one does not guarantee employment, promotion, or any regulatory outcome. Quantum Academy programs are educational and informational only, and are not legal, compliance, or engineering advice.
Media contact
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