OpenAI hires former US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll
Artificial intelligence leader OpenAI is actively continuing to strengthen its positions in the US national security and defence sector. The company has hired Dan Driscoll, former civilian head of the US Army, for the newly created role of Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization.
This move is a clear signal that OpenAI is seeking to build close ties with American military agencies, secure major government contracts, and play an active role in drafting the rules that will regulate the use of artificial intelligence across the armed forces and intelligence agencies.
Strengthening positions in the military sector
In his new role, Dan Driscoll will work with governments, the technology sector, academia, and US allies. His primary task will be to strengthen national security and cyber defence using artificial intelligence. In addition, he will help OpenAI's internal teams better understand the specific requirements and practical needs of security institutions.
According to Driscoll, national security requirements are changing faster today than at any point over the past 50 years. He stated that artificial intelligence can significantly reduce bureaucratic burdens, process vast amounts of intelligence data, and deliver required answers to the right people far more quickly.
Who is Dan Driscoll and what experience does he bring?
Dan Driscoll served as the 26th Secretary of the US Army. In this role, he led nearly one million military personnel and more than 265,000 civilian employees. During his tenure, he played a key role in the Army's technological modernisation.
He spearheaded Project ARIA, an initiative that integrated artificial intelligence tools into budgeting, logistics, and tactical deployment models. Thanks to this experience, he possesses in-depth knowledge of artificial intelligence procurement and implementation within the military sector.
Driscoll left his post as Army Secretary at the end of August 2026. His resignation followed months of disagreements with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who systematically dismissed high-ranking officers or blocked their promotions despite opposition from Driscoll.
Political influence and competition with Anthropic
Beyond his contacts at the Pentagon, Driscoll holds substantial political connections in Washington. He is a close ally of Vice President JD Vance and maintains strong relationships with members of both parties in the US Congress. This bipartisan network could prove especially valuable for OpenAI amid the US mid-term elections and potential shifts in the balance of political power.
This personnel decision coincides with major shifts at the Pentagon. In late February 2026, the US Department of Defense declared OpenAI's chief rival, Anthropic, a "supply chain risk". This occurred after Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei refused to remove contract clauses banning mass surveillance and the development of autonomous weapons from military agreements.
On the same day, OpenAI chief Sam Altman announced an agreement with the Pentagon to deploy the company's models on classified networks. Altman emphasised that the deal includes the same safety guarantees that Anthropic had fought to retain.
What does this mean for the tech sector and global security?
OpenAI's hiring of Dan Driscoll confirms once again that leading artificial intelligence companies are drawing increasingly close to the military-industrial complex. Where tech giants previously avoided direct collaboration with defence departments, market competition is now shifting towards securing state and military contracts.
For readers in Georgia and the global technology community, these developments indicate that AI tools are no longer merely civilian or commercial products. Artificial intelligence is taking shape as a central instrument of global security, national defence, and geopolitical influence, where technological progress and political decisions carry decisive weight.