# OpenAI Hires Former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to Sell AI to the US and Its Allies' Security Agencies

Times of AI Desk · 2026-11-03 · Policy

[https://timesof.ai/2026/11/openai-hires-dan-driscoll-national-security-modernization](https://timesof.ai/2026/11/openai-hires-dan-driscoll-national-security-modernization)

> OpenAI has appointed Dan Driscoll, the former US Secretary of the Army, to a newly created post of Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization, it said on November 2. He will advise on how AI can strengthen national and cyber security, with a focus on US allies, building on OpenAI's Daybreak cyber program. Reuters notes he resigned earlier this year after months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

OpenAI's newest senior hire is pointed less at the Pentagon than at the governments around it. On **Monday, November 2**, the company appointed **Dan Driscoll**, the 26th US Secretary of the Army, to a newly created role as **Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization**. OpenAI says he will 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."

## The job

OpenAI says Driscoll will work with leaders in governments, industry, academia and allied institutions on modernization projects that support what it calls "democratic AI," and will help its own teams understand the operational needs of national security institutions worldwide. The company says the appointment builds on its **Daybreak** program, under which it works with allies and partners on cyber resilience; CERT Polska, for one, [used OpenAI's cyber-capable models through Daybreak](https://timesof.ai/2026/10/openai-poland-nask-ai-safety-partnership) to find router flaws before Poland's NASK signed a research deal with OpenAI.

"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," Driscoll said in OpenAI's announcement. Chief executive Sam Altman said the US has "an extraordinary opportunity to work with other countries to spread the adoption of democratic AI."

## His background

As Army secretary, Driscoll oversaw nearly one million active, Guard and Reserve soldiers, OpenAI says, and he has also served as acting director of the ATF. **Reuters** reported that he resigned earlier this year after months of tension with Defense Secretary **Pete Hegseth**, and that he had been tapped by President Trump to take part in talks with Moscow and Kyiv on ending the war in Ukraine.

## Limits

- OpenAI did not say when Driscoll starts, whom he reports to or which governments he will work with first.
- The account of his departure from the Army comes from Reuters; OpenAI's announcement does not mention it.

## Sources

- [OpenAI: OpenAI appoints Dan Driscoll as Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization (November 2, 2026)](https://openai.com/index/dan-driscoll-joins-openai/)
- [Reuters via Investing.com: OpenAI taps former US army secretary Dan Driscoll for national security role (November 2, 2026)](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/openai-taps-former-us-army-secretary-dan-driscoll-for-national-security-role-4993247)