Usman Ansari was born and educated in Bradford, West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. He attended Keele University in Staffordshire, where he graduated with a dual honours BA degree in International History and International Politics, and an MA in Global Security. During his time at Keele he twice represented the university and helped organise the team for the Harvard Model United Nations in Turkey and then Brazil in his capacity as deputy head delegate.

Upon leaving university Usman undertook a period of travel that took him to Australia, Egypt, Germany, Turkey and Syria. On his return to the UK he began to contribute to UK publications as a freelance journalist mainly to the UK based naval news monthly Warships – International Fleet Review for which he was made the Chief Analyst in 2006. In his capacity as a correspondent and Chief Analyst for Warships – IFR Usman has covered amongst other things the 2005 International Fleet Review off Portsmouth from HMS Cardiff, and the following International Festival of the Sea; the preparations of HMS Chatham to deploy to the Falkland Islands; and Op Aquila, the deployment of the British strike carrier HMS Illustrious, destroyer HMS Gloucester, and the fleet auxiliary RFA Fort Victoria in the Indian Ocean; the bi-annual Pakistani defence shows IDEAS2006 and IDEAS2008; and the multinational naval exercise AMAN-07 held off the coast of Pakistan.

Usman has also contributed to Classic Military Vehicle, Military Machines International, Combat Aircraft, Land Rover World, Air Forces Monthly, and 4x4.

Usman has been based in Pakistan since 2006, and continues to contribute to various publications as well as explore avenues for creative writing and photography. He became the 'Pakistan Correspondent' for Defense News in October 2008, and rather unexpectedly, 'Pakistan Correspondent' for 4x4 around the same time covering the 2008 off road rally season.