OpenAI hires former US Army secretary Dan Driscoll for national security role

What role will Dan Driscoll fill at OpenAI?

OpenAI has appointed Dan Driscoll, a former US Army Secretary who stepped down earlier this year, as senior counselor for national security modernization. The newly created role tasks him with advising on how artificial intelligence can be used to strengthen U.S. national security, bolster cyber resilience, and help allied nations adopt advanced AI responsibly, according to a CNBC report.

Driscoll will work with OpenAI's senior leadership and external partners, including government officials, industry leaders, academic institutions and allied organizations, to advance what the company calls "democratic AI." He will also help internal teams understand the operational needs of national security institutions.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the United States 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.

Who is Dan Driscoll?

Dan Driscoll served as US Army Secretary until earlier this year, when he resigned after months of reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. An Iraq war veteran, Driscoll pushed efforts to modernize the U.S. military during his tenure, including expanding access to drone and counter-drone technologies among U.S. allies, according to a previous U.S. Army announcement cited by CNBC.

According to the Financial Times, Driscoll is known for his advocacy of technology modernization within the military. He 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. The OpenAI announcement marks his first private-sector role since leaving the Pentagon.

"National security requirements are changing faster than at any time in the past fifty years," Driscoll said in the announcement. He added that AI could help reduce paperwork, process information and deliver answers more quickly to those working in national security.

Why is OpenAI hiring for national security now?

The appointment comes as the U.S. military and intelligence agencies accelerate AI adoption across operations, from intelligence analysis to logistics planning. OpenAI has been steadily positioning itself to serve government clients, alongside defense contractors such as Microsoft and Palantir that already have deep government relationships. Reuters reported that the hire reflects OpenAI's push to expand its presence in the defense sector amid growing competition from Anthropic and Google.

The move also follows OpenAI's previously reported Daybreak program, a cybersecurity initiative that provides AI tools to critical infrastructure operators. CNBC noted that Driscoll's role builds on those efforts to protect essential services and strengthen cyber resilience.

OpenAI's overtures to the defense establishment have evolved significantly from the company's founding stance. In 2019, the company revised its charter to allow military applications after employee protests over a Microsoft contract with the U.S. Army. Today, OpenAI actively licenses its models to defense and intelligence agencies through dedicated government cloud offerings on Microsoft Azure.

How does this compare to other AI companies?

OpenAI is not alone in pursuing defense contracts. Anthropic's IPO filing disclosed that its Claude models are being evaluated by U.S. intelligence agencies, and the company has established a dedicated government business unit. Google Cloud offers AI services to the Department of Defense through its Google Distributed Cloud, while Palantir's AIP platform integrates large language models from multiple providers.

The competition for government AI contracts has intensified as the Pentagon allocates billions toward AI-enabled capabilities through its Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) initiative and the Replicator program for autonomous systems. Financial Times reported that the military sees AI as essential for maintaining technological superiority over China.

Driscoll's experience in the Pentagon and his relationships across the defense establishment may give OpenAI an edge in navigating the complex procurement and security clearance processes required for government contracts.

What comes next?

Driscoll started in the role immediately, with his updated LinkedIn profile already listing the new position, according to CNBC. His initial focus will be on building relationships with government officials and understanding the operational needs of national security institutions, OpenAI said.

The role signals that OpenAI expects national security work to represent a growing share of its business, alongside its consumer ChatGPT subscriptions and enterprise API revenue. As AI capabilities advance, the line between commercial AI systems and those used for national security continues to blur, raising questions about export controls, dual-use oversight, and the boundaries of military AI applications.