OpenAI announced Monday that former Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will join the company as Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization, a newly created position focused on expanding the use of artificial intelligence in national security and cybersecurity.
According to the press release, Driscoll will advise OpenAI leadership and work with government officials, industry leaders, academic institutions and U.S. allies on practical applications of advanced AI. He will also help the company better understand the operational needs of national security organizations, identify opportunities to modernize their policies and strategies, and determine where operational needs, institutional changes and emerging AI capabilities intersect.
In announcing the appointment, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the United States has an opportunity to work with other countries to expand the adoption of what the company calls “democratic AI” and strengthen American leadership. Driscoll said AI could help national security personnel reduce administrative workloads, analyze larger amounts of information and deliver quicker answers. He said he plans to help the United States and its allies use the technology responsibly.
Driscoll previously served as the 26th Secretary of the Army from February 2025 to September 2026 and as Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Reports indicated that he left the Army position following disagreements with War Secretary Pete Hegseth. In a post-resignation interview, Driscoll discussed the reported tensions, prompting Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell to dismiss his claims and describe the publication as a “fake news rag regurgitating months-old false narratives.”
