OpenAI has hired Dan Driscoll, the former civilian head of the US Army, as Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization. The appointment adds an experienced military and government figure to the company’s efforts to expand its role in national security and defense.
In the newly created position, Driscoll will work with governments, industry, academia and US allies on using AI to strengthen national security and cyber defense. He will also help OpenAI understand the operational needs of security institutions. The role could give the company a stronger foothold as government agencies consider how to use AI and how to set rules for its deployment.
Driscoll served as the Army’s 26th Secretary and led modernization efforts that included Project ARIA, which brought AI tools into budgeting, logistics and tactical model deployment. His experience could also be relevant to military procurement. He resigned in late August 2026 after reported disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over senior officers and promotions.
Driscoll is a close ally of Vice President JD Vance and, according to the Associated Press, has relationships with members of both parties in Congress. That bipartisan reach may be useful as the midterm elections approach and the balance of power could change.
The hire builds on OpenAI’s push into defense. In late February 2026, the Pentagon classified rival Anthropic as a supply-chain risk after its chief executive, Dario Amodei, declined to remove contract restrictions on mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. That same day, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced an agreement to deploy the company’s models on classified networks, saying it included safeguards similar to those Anthropic had sought to retain.
Sources: The Decoder.