IMPLICATOR
OpenAI has hired Dan Driscoll, the former U.S. Army secretary, as senior counselor for national security modernization, a newly created role. The company made the move on Monday, two months after he resigned after clashing with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. OpenAI is pushing to deepen its integration with the defense sector, secure government contracts and shape policy on military and intelligence AI.
What Changed
- OpenAI hired former U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll as senior counselor for national security modernization, a newly created role.
- Driscoll will advise on how advanced AI can strengthen national and cyber security, with a particular focus on working with U.S. allies.
- He stepped down from the Pentagon in September following months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- Federal rules generally limit what former senior officials may do when dealing with their former agencies.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
What the job covers
Driscoll will advise on how advanced AI can strengthen national and cyber security, with a particular focus on working with U.S. allies, OpenAI said. He will also help internal OpenAI teams understand the operational needs of global national security institutions.
The company said the appointment builds on its work with allies and partners under its Daybreak program, which aims to strengthen cyber resilience and protect essential services. Chief Executive Sam Altman said "the US has an extraordinary opportunity to work with other countries to spread the adoption of democratic AI" in the announcement.
Driscoll said the technology will help the people who serve keep pace "by cutting through paperwork, making sense of more information, and getting the right answer to the right person faster."
His Army record
Driscoll spent 18 months as the civilian leader of the Army. As secretary, he oversaw operations, modernization and resource allocation for nearly one million Active, Guard and Reserve soldiers and more than 265,000 Army civilians. He pushed soldiers to adopt new battlefield technology and spearheaded multibillion-dollar private-sector partnerships to modernize base infrastructure and domestic logistics.
He is an Iraq war veteran and tech investor who previously worked in venture capital and private equity. When nominating him in 2024, President Donald Trump called him "a disruptor and change agent."
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Trump appointed Driscoll as his special envoy for Ukraine in November 2025. On Nov. 19, 2025, he arrived in Kyiv and presented Ukraine's president with the administration's peace plan.
The Telegraph reported in late December 2025 that Hegseth had removed Driscoll from the negotiations. In February of this year, Driscoll took part in trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi.
The break with Hegseth
Driscoll stepped down from the Pentagon in September following months of tension with Hegseth over the direction of the service and the ouster of numerous senior Army officers. He was an ally of the Army's former chief of staff, whom Hegseth removed earlier this year.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Driscoll had been "highly effective" in advancing the president's agenda.
A Republican hire before the midterms
Companies have rushed in recent weeks to staff up with Democrats in anticipation of a blue wave on Tuesday, Semafor's Ashley Gold wrote. OpenAI went the other way, tapping what Gold called "a top Republican operative close to the vice president" on Monday. Driscoll is a former adviser to Vice President JD Vance, whom he met at Yale Law School.
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Gold's explanation is that Trump remains president for another two years, or "an eternity in AI time" by Gold's measure, and that his national security apparatus "remains a powerful force in deciding which new models get approved for use and who can access them."
OpenAI launched OpenAI for Government in June 2025, offering custom models for national security on a limited basis. It has since agreed to deploy its AI models in classified Pentagon environments, after the military's negotiations with Anthropic broke down.
The defense secretary is reportedly in the firing line. If Republicans lose the Senate, Trump's ability to name new cabinet secretaries would be limited, should he dismiss any.
Movement between defense institutions and technology firms has drawn scrutiny from some observers over potential conflicts of interest. Federal rules generally limit what former senior officials may do when dealing with their former agencies. Neither Hegseth nor the Pentagon has publicly addressed the hiring in announcements tied to the company's statement.
How will the Pentagon and Congress view a recently departed service secretary advising a company that seeks defense work?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dan Driscoll's new job at OpenAI?
He is senior counselor for national security modernization, a newly created role. He will advise on how advanced AI can strengthen national and cyber security, with a particular focus on working with U.S. allies.
Why did Driscoll leave the Pentagon?
He stepped down in September following months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the direction of the service and the ouster of numerous senior Army officers.
What national security work has OpenAI already done?
OpenAI launched OpenAI for Government in June 2025, offering custom models for national security on a limited basis. It has since agreed to deploy its AI models in classified Pentagon environments.
Why does the timing of the hire stand out?
Semafor's Ashley Gold wrote that companies have been staffing up with Democrats in anticipation of a blue wave on Tuesday. OpenAI instead hired a Republican close to the vice president.
Do any rules limit what Driscoll can do?
Federal rules generally limit what former senior officials may do when dealing with their former agencies. Neither Hegseth nor the Pentagon has publicly addressed the hiring in announcements tied to the company's statement.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
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Marcus Schuler
Editor-in-Chief and founder of Implicator.ai. Former ARD correspondent and senior broadcast journalist with 10+ years covering tech. Writes daily briefings on policy and market developments. Based in San Francisco. E-mail: editor@implicator.ai
