OpenAI has hired former U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll as senior counselor for national security modernization, a newly created role focused on how artificial intelligence can be used to strengthen national security and cybersecurity.
Driscoll stepped down as Army secretary earlier this year after months of reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. An Iraq war veteran, he had pushed efforts to modernize the U.S. military, including expanding access to drone and counter-drone technologies among U.S. allies, according to a previous U.S. Army announcement. He also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv in November 2025 to discuss a U.S.-proposed peace plan aimed at ending the war with Russia, according to a statement from the Presidential Office of Ukraine.
In his new role at OpenAI, Driscoll will work with the company's senior leadership and external partners, with a focus on helping U.S. allies adopt advanced AI responsibly. He will also work with government officials, industry leaders, academic institutions and allied organizations to advance what the company calls "democratic AI." He will help internal teams understand the operational needs of national security institutions, building on OpenAI's efforts to strengthen cyber resilience and protect essential services through its Daybreak program.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the U.S. has "an extraordinary opportunity to work with other countries to spread the adoption of democratic AI," and that Driscoll's appointment would help strengthen American leadership in the technology.
"National security requirements are changing faster than at any time in the past fifty years," Driscoll said. "I'm joining OpenAI to help the U.S. and our allies put this technology to work responsibly, for the people who keep us safe."
OpenAI has hired former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll into a newly created national security AI role.
As Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization, he will advise governments and companies on using AI for national and cyber security, especially among U.S. allies.
The move comes 2 months after he quit the Army’s top civilian job amid friction with Pete Hegseth, who had removed several officers tied to his modernization drive.
He earlier deployed to Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division and later worked in private equity.
It follows OpenAI’s 2026 Pentagon deal, whose limits on surveillance and autonomous weapons prompted hardware leader Caitlin Kalinowski to quit over a rushed process.
The hire signals a deepening integration between advanced AI companies and national security infrastructure.
Driscoll's experience with military modernization and allied partnerships could shape how AI is deployed in defense and cybersecurity.
The role reflects a broader trend of technology companies recruiting senior government officials to navigate sensitive security collaborations.
Background
OpenAI, the company behind the ChatGPT AI model, has been expanding its work with government agencies. Its Daybreak program focuses on protecting essential services and strengthening cyber resilience. The appointment of a former U.S. Army secretary to a senior national security role is a significant step in that direction.
What to Watch
How Driscoll's work influences OpenAI's contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense and allied nations.
Potential public and political reactions to an AI company taking on a formal role in national security.
Further hires from government ranks as AI companies seek to shape security policy.
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SupportedOpenAI hired former U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll as senior counselor for national security modernization, in a newly created role.Tech: “OpenAI has hired former U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll as senior counselor for national security modernization, a newly created role at the company .”
SupportedThe new senior counselor role focuses on using AI to strengthen U.S. national security and cybersecurity.Tech: “Driscoll will focus on how artificial intelligence can be used to strengthen U.S. national security and cybersecurity, OpenAI said”
SupportedDriscoll stepped down as Army secretary earlier this year after months of reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.Tech: “The appointment comes after Driscoll stepped down as Army secretary earlier this year after months of reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.”
SupportedDriscoll is an Iraq war veteran.Tech: “An Iraq war veteran, Driscoll pushed efforts to modernize the U.S. military”
SupportedDriscoll pushed efforts to modernize the U.S. military, including expanding U.S. allies’ access to drone and counter-drone technologies, according to a previous U.S. Army announcement.Tech: “Driscoll pushed efforts to modernize the U.S. military, including expanding access to drone and counter-drone technologies among U.S. allies, according to a previous U.S. Army announcement.”
SupportedDriscoll met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv in November 2025 to discuss a U.S.-proposed peace plan aimed at ending the war with Russia, according to Ukraine’s Presidential Office.Tech: “Driscoll also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv in November 2025 to discuss a U.S.-proposed peace plan aimed at ending the war with Russia, according to a statement from the Presidential Office of Ukraine.”
SupportedIn his OpenAI role, Driscoll will work with senior leadership and external partners, focusing particularly on helping U.S. allies adopt advanced AI responsibly.Tech: “He will work with OpenAI's senior leadership and external partners, with a particular focus on helping U.S. allies adopt advanced AI responsibly.”
SupportedDriscoll will work with government officials, industry leaders, academic institutions and allied organizations to advance what OpenAI calls “democratic AI.”Tech: “At OpenAI, Driscoll will work with government officials, industry leaders, academic institutions and allied organizations to advance what the company calls "democratic AI."”
SupportedDriscoll will help OpenAI’s internal teams understand national security institutions’ operational needs, building on the company’s Daybreak program to strengthen cyber resilience and protect essential services.Tech: “He will also help internal teams understand the operational needs of national security institutions, building on OpenAI's efforts to strengthen cyber resilience and protect essential services through its Daybreak program .”
SupportedSam Altman said the U.S. has “an extraordinary opportunity to work with other countries to spread the adoption of democratic AI,” and that Driscoll’s appointment would help strengthen American leadership in the technology.Tech: “OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the U.S. has "an extraordinary opportunity to work with other countries to spread the adoption of democratic AI," and that Driscoll's appointment would help strengthen American leadership in the technology.”
SupportedDriscoll said, “National security requirements are changing faster than at any time in the past fifty years.”Tech: “"National security requirements are changing faster than at any time in the past fifty years," Driscoll said.”
SupportedDriscoll said, “I'm joining OpenAI to help the U.S. and our allies put this technology to work responsibly, for the people who keep us safe.”Tech: “I'm joining OpenAI to help the U.S. and our allies put this technology to work responsibly, for the people who keep us safe.”
