- Palantir provides AI-powered intelligence and targeting systems to the Pentagon, while
- Elon Musk’s Starlink network has become a key communications platform for Ukrainian forces.
- Defense technology firm Anduril has also developed AI-enabled drones and autonomous weapons systems.
AI giant hires ex-Pentagon army secretary
Dan Driscoll has joined OpenAI, becoming the latest senior defense official recruited by the tech industry
Published 3 Nov, 2026 15:05 | Updated 3 Nov, 2026 16:10
U.S.artificial intelligence giant OpenAI has hired former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll as a senior national security adviser, in the latest high-profile appointment highlighting the increasingly close ties between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon.
- Driscoll served as secretary of the US Army from 2025 until his resignation in August 2026.
- He also played a role in Washington’s efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, taking part in trilateral talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials in February 2026.
OpenAI has already recruited prominent figures from the US national security establishment.
In June 2024, retired General Paul Nakasone, who previously headed both the National Security Agency (NSA) and US Cyber Command, joined the company’s board of directors and its Safety and Security Committee.
He later also joined the board of cybersecurity firm WitnessAI.
- Former Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy has joined the boards of several defense and technology companies, including Lynx Software Technologies and CACI International.
- Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper joined the board of defense technology firm Epirus in 2021, while His predecessor,
- James Mattis, returned to the board of defense contractor General Dynamics in 2019 after leaving the Pentagon.
- Will Roper, a former assistant secretary of the US Air Force responsible for acquisition, technology, and logistics, joined the board of drone manufacturer Volansi in 2021.
- Former NSA director Keith Alexander also joined Amazon’s board in 2020 while serving as co-CEO of cybersecurity firm IronNet.
OpenAI appoints Dan Driscoll as Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization
Dan Driscoll will join OpenAI as Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization, working with senior leadership and external partners to advise on how advanced AI can strengthen national and cyber security, with a particular focus on working with U.S. allies to advance its responsible use.
In this newly created role, Dan will work with OpenAI teams and leaders across governments, industry, academia, and allied institutions to advance practical modernization initiatives that support the buildout of democratic AI. He will also help internal OpenAI teams understand the operational needs of global national security institutions.
Dan previously served as the 26th Secretary of the Army, overseeing the service’s operations, modernization, and resources. He brings experience spanning military service, senior government leadership, and the private sector.
In his role, Dan will advise our public and private sector partners in modernizing policy and strategy choices to unlock practical uses of AI to improve national security and help ensure the world is building AI to support democratic principles. He will work to identify where operational needs, institutional change and emerging AI capabilities come together. Dan’s appointment reflects our commitment to helping democratic institutions use advanced AI responsibly to strengthen shared security, and builds on OpenAI’s work with allies and partners to strengthen cyber resilience and protect essential services under its Daybreak program.
Dan Driscoll was the 26th Secretary of the United States Army. As Secretary, he oversaw operations, modernization, and resource allocation for nearly one million Active, Guard, and Reserve Soldiers and more than 265,000 Army Civilians. He drove Army transformation focused on accelerating the fielding of new technology, reforming acquisition, and building a more capable force. A former Army officer and business leader, Dan has experience spanning military service, law, and the private sector.
Published Nov 2, 2026, 8:04 PM MST
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3 key pointsOpenAI’s new national-security counselor remit puts former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll between the company’s AI teams and government, industry, academic and allied organizations. His military modernization experience could help OpenAI shape security-related work and support adoption among allies, but the company announced no deployment or measured outcomes: reducing paperwork and speeding information processing are uses Driscoll proposed. The international remit also reflects CEO Sam Altman’s stated push to spread adoption of democratic AI.
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OpenAI says Driscoll will build on its Daybreak program, which the company describes as strengthening cyber resilience and protecting essential services.
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As Army secretary, Driscoll pushed to widen U.S. allies’ access to drone and counter-drone technology, according to an Army announcement cited by CNBC.
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Driscoll left the Army’s top civilian job earlier in 2026; CNBC, citing Reuters, reported months of tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
OpenAI has hired former U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for a newly created role connecting its AI work with national security institutions. As senior counselor for national security modernization, he will advise company leaders on national security and cybersecurity applications and help U.S. allies adopt advanced AI responsibly, CNBC reported.
The appointment gives Driscoll responsibilities both inside and outside the company. OpenAI said he will help its teams understand the operational needs of national security institutions while working with government officials, industry leaders, academic institutions and allied organizations.
An international mandate
CEO Sam Altman framed the hiring around American leadership in AI. He 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 that leadership.
Driscoll brings experience with military modernization and international partners. An Iraq war veteran, he pushed efforts to widen access to drone and counter-drone technology among U.S. allies while serving as Army secretary, according to an earlier Army announcement cited by CNBC.
Less paperwork, faster answers
Driscoll’s own explanation emphasized everyday work within national security organizations. He said AI could reduce paperwork, process information and deliver answers more quickly. Those were proposed uses, not results from a deployment announced alongside his appointment.
“National security requirements are changing faster than at any time in the past fifty years,” Driscoll said. His remit also builds on OpenAI’s existing Daybreak program, which the company describes as an effort to strengthen cyber resilience and protect essential services.
The move follows Driscoll’s departure from the Army’s top civilian job earlier in 2026. CNBC, citing Reuters, said he resigned after months of reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His updated LinkedIn profile also lists the new OpenAI position.
Sources
- cnbc.comOpenAI hires former U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for national security role
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