OpenAI has hired former Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll as senior counselor for national security modernization, creating a new role as the artificial intelligence company seeks to deepen its work with the U.S. government, military and allied countries.
Driscoll will advise OpenAI’s senior leadership and “external partners” on how AI can support national security and cybersecurity, according to the company’s announcement. His responsibilities will include working with U.S. allies on the responsible use of AI, as well as helping translate the needs of security institutions for OpenAI’s teams.
“National security requirements are changing faster than at any time in the past fifty years. This technology will help them keep pace by cutting through paperwork, making sense of more information, and getting the right answer to the right person faster.” — Dan Driscoll, in OpenAI’s announcement
Driscoll said he would help put the technology to work for the United States and its allies. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said Driscoll’s appointment would support American leadership in AI and the company’s efforts to work with other countries on what Altman called the adoption of “democratic AI.”
A government-facing expansion
The appointment places a former senior Army official inside a company competing for influence in government AI programs. Driscoll was the 26th secretary of the Army and left the position in late August after serving during a period when the service was pursuing military modernization initiatives, including Operation Jailbreak, the Army Transformation Initiative and a low-cost interceptor program.
His arrival also comes after a public dispute between the Pentagon and Anthropic over the military’s requested access to Anthropic’s Claude model. Anthropic ultimately refused to provide unrestricted access, and the dispute was followed by the Pentagon shifting classified-network integrations toward other AI providers, including OpenAI.
Driscoll’s focus at OpenAI
OpenAI said the new counselor will work with governments, industry, academia and U.S. allies. The company’s announcement did not describe a specific contract or disclose financial terms for Driscoll’s appointment. The role instead places emphasis on policy, institutional coordination and the practical deployment of AI in national security and cyber defense.
- Role: Senior counselor for national security modernization
- Focus: National security, cybersecurity and responsible AI use
- Partners: Governments, industry, academia and U.S. allies
Driscoll’s appointment gives OpenAI an executive with experience inside the Army at a time when defense agencies are assessing how AI can be used across military and intelligence operations. It also follows the company’s effort to position its systems as an option for national-security work after the Pentagon’s conflict with Anthropic.
