Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI hires ex-Army secretary for national security role
OpenAI appointed former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to a new national security post as it expanded its defence work and positioned itself for further government business.
- OpenAI hired Dan Driscoll as Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization.
- Driscoll had been the civilian head of the United States Army.
- OpenAI said Driscoll would work with governments, industry, academia and US allies on national security and cyber defence through AI.
- Driscoll had led AI modernisation in the Army, including Project ARIA, and resigned in late August 2026 after friction with Pete Hegseth.
- In February 2026, the Pentagon classified Anthropic as a supply chain risk after Dario Amodei refused to remove restrictions on mass surveillance and autonomous weapons from contracts.
OpenAI hired Dan Driscoll, the former Secretary of the Army, into a newly created role called Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization. The company said he would help it work with governments, industry, academia and US allies on security and cyber defence using AI.
The article said OpenAI viewed the hire as part of a broader effort to win more defence business and influence rules for military and intelligence use of AI. It also said Driscoll would help the company understand what security institutions need.
Driscoll had overseen the Army as its 26th secretary and had pushed AI modernisation there, including through Project ARIA, which applied AI tools to budgeting, logistics and tactical deployment. He resigned in late August 2026 after reported conflict with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The article said Driscoll was a close ally of Vice President JD Vance and kept relationships with both parties in Congress. It said that network could matter if the balance of power changes after the midterm elections.
The piece also linked the hire to OpenAI’s earlier defence work. In February 2026, the Pentagon classified Anthropic as a supply chain risk after chief executive Dario Amodei refused to remove limits on mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, and Sam Altman then announced OpenAI’s own Pentagon deal for classified networks.
Named in this story
People
- Dan Driscoll
- was hired as Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization
- Pete Hegseth
- was the Defence Secretary amid friction with Driscoll
- JD Vance
- was described as a close ally of Driscoll
- Dario Amodei
- was Anthropic’s chief executive and refused to drop contract restrictions
- Sam Altman
- announced OpenAI’s Pentagon deal
Companies
- OpenAI
- hired Dan Driscoll and expanded its defence push
- Anthropic
- was classified by the Pentagon as a supply chain risk
Governments and agencies
- United States Army
- was previously led by Driscoll during his tenure as Secretary
- Congress
- was the institution where Driscoll kept relationships with both parties
- Pentagon
- classified Anthropic and awarded OpenAI access to classified networks
Products and systems
- Project ARIA
- was the Army initiative through which Driscoll advanced AI modernisation
How the source tells it
The article used a strategic, mildly promotional register, with speculation about political leverage and future contracts layered on top of the reported hire.
- hype the piece cast the appointment as part of a broader drive to become the leading defence AI supplier
- speculation it projected future benefits from Driscoll’s contacts and the coming election cycle