Quick Summary
- Dan Driscoll will advise OpenAI’s leadership on national security modernization and work with external partners.
- His remit includes helping the company understand operational needs across national security organisations.
- The appointment comes as governments and technology companies debate the use of advanced systems in defence and cybersecurity.
OpenAI has appointed former US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll to a newly created position focused on national security modernization. Reuters reported the appointment on November 3, citing the company. Driscoll will serve as a senior counselor, advising OpenAI’s leadership and working with government officials, industry leaders and academic institutions on the use of advanced systems in national security and cybersecurity.
The stated purpose of the appointment
[“Help OpenAI’s leadership understand operational needs and work with government, industry and academic partners.”]
OpenAI statement reported by Reuters
A new role aimed at government engagement
OpenAI said Driscoll will help its leadership understand the operational requirements of national security organisations. That could include how government agencies evaluate new technology, what standards they expect for security and reliability, and how systems can be integrated into existing operations. The company said he will also collaborate with external partners on practical initiatives intended to strengthen national security and cyber defence.
The position is not described as a government appointment or a role inside the US Department of Defense. Driscoll is joining the company as an adviser. OpenAI has not disclosed the full reporting structure, compensation or a detailed list of programmes he will oversee. His influence will depend on how the company uses his experience and whether government agencies are willing to work with a commercial AI provider on sensitive tasks.
Driscoll’s background in government
Driscoll previously served as US Secretary of the Army and gained wider attention when he was involved in diplomatic discussions related to the war in Ukraine. Reuters noted that he resigned earlier in 2026 after a period of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His background combines military administration, government operations and national-security policy, areas that OpenAI says it wants to understand more deeply.
Technology companies increasingly have to explain how their products can be used in sensitive environments. Governments need to assess data handling, reliability, access controls and the consequences of incorrect outputs. An adviser with experience in the military can help a company understand how procurement and operational decisions are made, but it does not remove the need for independent testing or formal security review.
The broader relationship between technology firms and defence
OpenAI’s appointment comes amid debate over the role of commercial AI companies in defence, intelligence and cybersecurity. Governments want access to tools that can help analyse information, improve logistics and support cyber operations. At the same time, companies face questions about safeguards, human oversight and whether their systems should be used in particular military contexts.
Driscoll said he was joining to help the United States and its allies put the technology to work responsibly for people who keep them safe. The statement describes the company’s ambition, not a list of approved deployments. OpenAI will still need to define which projects it will support, how sensitive information is protected and what limits apply when systems are used by national-security organisations. The appointment is a sign of a more formal government-facing strategy, rather than evidence that a specific defence contract has been awarded.
Driscoll’s role will be judged by the projects that follow the appointment, not only by his previous title. OpenAI says he will help identify where operational needs, institutional change and emerging capabilities meet. That could include support for cybersecurity, logistics, analysis and the modernisation of government workflows. The company has not announced a specific contract or deployment as part of the appointment. Public agencies will still need procurement review, security assessments and rules for human oversight. A senior adviser can improve communication between the company and government, but cannot replace those formal processes.
OpenAI has not announced a specific government contract as part of Driscoll’s appointment. Any deployment in a sensitive environment will still require procurement review, security testing and clear rules for human oversight. The role gives the company a senior adviser with government experience, but it does not replace the formal approval process used by public agencies.