Science & Tech · AI · 3 hrs ago
OpenAI appoints former US Army secretary to national security role
OpenAI has appointed former US Army secretary Dan Driscoll to a newly created role focused on national security modernisation.
He will advise the company’s leaders and work with outside partners on how advanced AI could support national security and cybersecurity.
Driscoll left his government post earlier in 2026 after months of tension with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
He also took part in talks with Moscow and Kyiv aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump selected him for the task.
At OpenAI, he will speak with government, industry and academic groups and help company teams understand the needs of national security organisations.
His work will focus on developing practical ways to use AI responsibly, and OpenAI says he will help advance what it calls “democratic AI.”
OpenAI appointed former US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll to a newly created national security modernisation role.
The company said on Nov 2 that Driscoll will serve as senior counsellor for national security modernisation.
He will advise OpenAI’s leadership and work with external partners on using advanced AI to enhance national security and cybersecurity.
Driscoll will also engage government officials, industry leaders and academic institutions, and help OpenAI teams understand national security organisations’ operational needs.
- Who
- Dan Driscoll, a former US Secretary of the Army, and OpenAI.
- What
- OpenAI appointed Driscoll as senior counsellor for national security modernisation.
- When
- OpenAI announced the appointment on Nov 2.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- To advise on how advanced AI can support national security and cybersecurity, and to advance initiatives for developing what OpenAI calls “democratic AI”.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Driscoll resigned as US Secretary of the Army after months of tension with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
OpenAI announced that Driscoll would take a newly created role focused on national security modernisation.
- Appointee
- Dan Driscoll
- Role
- Senior counsellor for national security modernisation
- Announcement
- Nov 2
- Focus
- National security modernisation, national security and cybersecurity
- Previous position
- US Secretary of the Army
What people are saying
I’m joining OpenAI to help the United States and our allies put this technology to work responsibly, for the people who keep us safe,