OpenAI Hires Former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for National Security Role

Nov 3, 2026
OpenAI hired former US Army secretary Dan Driscoll as senior counsellor for national security modernisation, the Financial Times reported.

OpenAI has hired Dan Driscoll, the former US Army secretary, for a newly created role as senior counsellor for national security modernisation, the Financial Times reported on 2 November, according to Investing.com. A summary of the FT report cited by FourWeekMBA says he will help the company "expand AI adoption across U.S. and allied defense institutions."

Driscoll resigned as Army secretary after tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His last full day in the post was 2 September, according to AP as cited by FourWeekMBA. He had been confirmed to the role in February 2025 and is described as a close friend of Vice President JD Vance.

The hire comes as the US military expands its use of AI. OpenAI signed a $200 million prototype agreement with the Pentagon in June 2025, one of four awarded to AI labs at the same ceiling.

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