OpenAI appoints former Army Secretary as national security adviser

OpenAI has appointed former US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll as its “Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization,” expanding the company’s focus on defense and government work. According to OpenAI, Driscoll will engage with governments, industry, academia and US allies on AI-enabled national security and cyber defense, while helping company teams understand the operational needs of security institutions. The Wall Street Journal described the appointment as a sign that OpenAI is seeking closer military ties, more government contracts and influence over future rules for AI in defense and intelligence.

Driscoll was the Army’s 26th secretary, overseeing nearly one million soldiers and more than 265,000 civilian employees. During his tenure, he supported AI modernization initiatives, including Project ARIA, which applied AI to budgeting, logistics and tactical model deployment. He resigned in late August 2026 after reported disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The Associated Press reported that Driscoll has relationships with lawmakers from both parties and is a close ally of Vice President JD Vance. OpenAI’s defense push also includes a February 2026 Pentagon contract for classified networks, announced after Anthropic was designated a supply chain risk.