OpenAI Hires Former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll as National Security Counselor
OpenAI has appointed Dan Driscoll, the 26th Secretary of the Army, as Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization. According to the company, the role is newly created and focuses on how advanced AI can strengthen national and cyber security, particularly through work with U.S. allies.
- Dan Driscoll joins OpenAI as Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization, a newly created role.
- He previously served as the 26th Secretary of the United States Army.
- His focus is advising on responsible AI use for national and cyber security, especially with U.S. allies.
- He will also help OpenAI teams understand the operational needs of global national security institutions.
- OpenAI links the move to its Daybreak program on cyber resilience and protecting essential services.
A newly created role focused on allies and security
Driscoll will work with OpenAI's senior leadership and external partners, according to the company's announcement. His remit is to advise on how advanced AI can strengthen national and cyber security, with a particular focus on working with U.S. allies to advance its responsible use.
OpenAI says he will collaborate with teams and leaders across governments, industry, academia and allied institutions. The goal is to advance practical modernization initiatives that support the build out of what the company calls democratic AI. He will also help internal OpenAI teams understand the operational needs of global national security institutions.
What Driscoll will do
OpenAI says Driscoll will advise its public and private sector partners on modernizing policy and strategy choices. The aim is to unlock practical uses of AI to improve national security and to help ensure the world is building AI to support democratic principles.
The company describes his task as identifying where operational needs, institutional change and emerging AI capabilities come together. In practice, that places him between OpenAI's technical teams and the institutions that might adopt their tools.
Background in the Army and the private sector
Driscoll previously served as the 26th Secretary of the United States Army. In that post, according to OpenAI, he oversaw operations, modernization and resource allocation for nearly one million Active, Guard and Reserve Soldiers and more than 265,000 Army Civilians.
The company says he drove Army transformation focused on accelerating the fielding of new technology, reforming acquisition and building a more capable force. He is described as a former Army officer and business leader with experience spanning military service, law and the private sector.
Link to the Daybreak program
OpenAI says the appointment reflects its commitment to helping democratic institutions use advanced AI responsibly to strengthen shared security. It also builds on the company's work with allies and partners to strengthen cyber resilience and protect essential services under its Daybreak program.
The announcement does not give a start date or details on the size of the team Driscoll will work with. What it does make clear is that OpenAI is putting a figure with senior military and government experience in a dedicated position, aimed at both outside partners and its own staff.
