Niles Austin is a man of action.

Niles beams as he talks about his love of exhilarating experiences. We're currently sitting in the latest asset in this pursuit, his Defender, en-route to the Sweetwater Creek State Park, and the straight city blocks of Atlanta slowly become winding tree-lined roads. Georgia is where Niles and his wife call home, and where he balances work as a project manager with a burgeoning career in film. 

But how he got here is quite a journey.

Growing up in Florida, Niles signed up for the Marine Corps the very day he turned 18. Shortly after, the prestigious West Point Academy approached him about a campus tour. He enjoyed the visit but wasn't convinced. "I wanted to be a Marine" he explains. "But I also love challenges, and I knew getting into West Point would be a challenge." Niles put his ability to the test and soon found himself accepting an offer to join the academy. "July 2, 2012" he says matter-of-factly, as if it were just yesterday. 

It was during this time that he was introduced to overlanding, and through that, the Defender. His roommate at the time was a fan of the off-road, and his favorite 4x4 was a vintage Defender. Naturally, Niles was keen to learn all about it. 

After sustaining an injury that would plague him for the rest of his time in the service, Niles medically retired from the military. The decision was hard, but the right one to make. "When I found out that I wasn't going to be able to continue my service, I had to pivot and find new goals that were just as challenging."

For Niles, that was finding new pursuits that let him continue some of the roles he enjoyed so much in the service, like leading a team and complex problem solving. It also gave him an opportunity to strengthen his ever-growing skill set. "Bridging that gap between what knowledge I had and what I didn't, that's been a constant throughout my life."

He also reunited with the vehicle that ignited his love of the great outdoors. After considering what he wanted out of his future overlanding experience, Niles found the exact model for him: the Defender Supercharged V8 Dynamic SE. He loves the powerful engine and the vehicle's ability to get him over tricky terrain and even closer to nature. "There's nothing like going up to North Georgia and crossing a creek bed for the first time."

By the time we reach the State Park, the sun has begun to set. Niles leans against his Defender as the sky darkens and his laughter echoes across the lake. With a vehicle so fine-tuned to his style, I ask Niles if he shares any characteristics with the Defender. "Resilience." He says, without skipping a beat.