OpenAI hires ex-Army Secretary, gaining bipartisan reach just as midterms loom

Key Points

- OpenAI is beefing up its defense operation by bringing on former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll as a national security advisor.

- Driscoll previously led AI modernization efforts across the US Army and is expected to help OpenAI land government contracts through his connections in Congress.

- The move builds on OpenAI's push into defense. Back in February 2026, the company secured a Pentagon contract for classified networks after rival Anthropic was shut out.

OpenAI is pushing hard to become the go-to AI company for US national security and defense.

The company hired Dan Driscoll, the former civilian head of the US Army, as "Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization." The Wall Street Journal reads the move as a clear signal that OpenAI wants closer ties with the military, a bigger share of government contracts, and a seat at the table when rules for AI use in the armed forces and intelligence agencies get written.

In his newly created role, Driscoll will work with governments, industry, academia, and US allies to strengthen national security and cyber defense through AI, according to OpenAI. He'll also help OpenAI's teams better understand what security institutions actually need on the ground. Driscoll says national security requirements are shifting faster than at any point in the past 50 years. AI can take the load off bureaucracies, process more intelligence, and route answers to the right people faster.

Driscoll already pushed AI modernization inside the Army

As the 26th Secretary of the Army, Driscoll oversaw nearly one million soldiers and more than 265,000 civilian employees. During his tenure, he drove AI modernization across the service branch, including through Project ARIA, an initiative that brought AI tools to budgeting, logistics, and tactical model deployment. That gives him some hands-on experience in military AI procurement.

Driscoll submitted his resignation in late August 2026. Reports point to months of friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who repeatedly removed senior officers or blocked their promotions over Driscoll's objections.

Beyond his Pentagon connections, Driscoll could open doors on Capitol Hill. A close ally of Vice President JD Vance, he maintains strong relationships with both parties in Congress, according to AP. That bipartisan network could prove especially useful if the balance of power shifts after the current midterm elections.

OpenAI filled the gap after Anthropic's Pentagon ban

In late February 2026, the Pentagon classified rival Anthropic as a "supply chain risk" after CEO Dario Amodei refused to drop restrictions on mass surveillance and autonomous weapons from his contracts.

That same day, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced his own deal with the Pentagon to deploy its models on classified networks. Altman stressed that the agreement included safeguards similar to the ones Anthropic had fought to keep.

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