OpenAI said Dan Driscoll will join the company as senior counselor for national security modernization, a newly created post advising its leadership on artificial intelligence applications in national security and cybersecurity, CNBC reported on Monday. Driscoll, an Iraq war veteran who resigned as Army secretary earlier this year after months of reported tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, will work with government officials, industry leaders and allied organisations on the adoption of advanced AI by US allies, building on the company’s Daybreak cyber resilience program. Chief executive Sam Altman said the appointment is intended to strengthen American leadership as other countries adopt what OpenAI calls democratic AI, and Driscoll said he is joining to help the United States and its allies put the technology to work responsibly for national security staff.
OpenAI hires former Army secretary Driscoll for security role
OpenAI has hired Dan Driscoll, who stepped down as US Army secretary earlier this year, as senior counselor for national security modernization, a new role advising on artificial intelligence for national security and cybersecurity.
Why it matters: The hire puts a former service secretary inside the largest US AI company's government work at a moment when Washington is deciding how allied militaries adopt American AI systems.
Data as of CNBC report of November 2, 2026, read in full in this run, citing OpenAI for the appointment; the Financial Times first reported the hire and Investing.com and Tech in Asia carried it the same evening. No start date was given. Developing item.
Sources
- OpenAI hires former U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for national security role - CNBC - 2026-11-02