OpenAI Creates New National Security AI Role, Hires Former Army Secretary Driscoll
OpenAI has hired former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for a newly created national security AI role—Senior Advisor for National Security Modernization—advising governments and enterprises on the use of AI for national security and cybersecurity, with a focus on U.S. allies. He resigned as the Army's top civilian official two months ago amid friction with Pete Hegseth. The move follows OpenAI's 2026 Pentagon agreement, whose restrictions on surveillance and autonomous weapons had prompted hardware head Caitlin Kalinowski to resign over the rushed process.
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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.