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OpenAI Hires Former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for a New National Security Role
OpenAI hires former U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll as senior counselor for national security modernization
Key points
- Driscoll stepped down as Army secretary earlier this year after months of reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- OpenAI said Driscoll will work with government officials, industry leaders, academic institutions and allied organizations.
- Driscoll pushed efforts to expand access to drone and counter-drone technologies among U.S. allies, per a previous Army announcement.
Why it matters. The hire signals OpenAI's stated effort to expand its AI work with U.S. national security agencies and allied governments.
OpenAI has named Dan Driscoll, who stepped down as U.S. Army secretary earlier this year, as its senior counselor for national security modernization. He will focus on how AI can strengthen U.S. national security and cybersecurity, and help U.S. allies adopt advanced AI responsibly. CEO Sam Altman said the U.S. has "an extraordinary opportunity to work with other countries to spread the adoption of democratic AI.
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OpenAI Hires Former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for a New National Security Role
OpenAI has hired former U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to fill a newly created national security role, according to CNBC. The position is focused on national security modernization, an area where advanced AI tools are drawing growing interest from government and the military. Driscoll served as Army Secretary in the current administration and appeared at the United States Military Academy's commencement at West Point on May 23, 2026. The reporting available does not detail his responsibilities or reporting lines, so the scope of the role remains to be clarified by the company.