OpenAI hires former Army secretary as adviser

OpenAI has hired former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to serve as a senior counselor for national security modernization, the company announced Monday.

The ChatGPT maker said Driscoll, who stepped down from his previous role in early September, will advise the AI firm on how the technology can be used to boost national and cybersecurity.

His role will focus particularly on working with U.S. allies, including working to “advance practical modernization initiatives” and helping OpenAI teams to “understand the operational needs of global national security institutions.”

“The people who serve deserve the very best tools we can put in their hands,” Driscoll said in a statement. “National security requirements are changing faster than at any time in the past fifty years.”

“This technology will help them keep pace by cutting through paperwork, making sense of more information, and getting the right answer to the right person faster,” he continued. “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 resigned as Army secretary earlier this year following a lengthy turf war with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

After President Trump tapped Driscoll last year to negotiate with Ukrainian officials in an effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war, tensions flared between the two Pentagon leaders. Hegseth later fired several senior Army officials, including those close to Driscoll.

While serving as Army secretary, Driscoll had pushed to update the branch’s equipment and learn from Ukraine on how to modernize warfare capabilities using commercial technology.