AI giant hires ex-Pentagon army secretary

Dan Driscoll has joined OpenAI, becoming the latest senior defense official recruited by the tech industry

US artificial intelligence giant OpenAI has hired former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll as a senior national security adviser, in the latest high-profile appointment highlighting the increasingly close ties between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon.

Driscoll will join the company as senior counselor for national security modernization, OpenAI announced on Monday. He will advise its leadership and partners on the use of AI in national security and cybersecurity, including cooperation with US allies.

The tech industry has been strengthening its ties with the US military. Palantir provides AI-powered intelligence and targeting systems to the Pentagon, while Elon Musk’s Starlink network has become a key communications platform for Ukrainian forces. Defense technology firm Anduril has also developed AI-enabled drones and autonomous weapons systems.

Driscoll served as secretary of the US Army from 2025 until his resignation in August 2026. He also played a role in Washington’s efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, taking part in trilateral talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials in February 2026.

His departure from the Pentagon followed reported disagreements with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over the army’s direction and combat readiness.

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OpenAI has already recruited prominent figures from the US national security establishment. In June 2024, retired General Paul Nakasone, who previously headed both the National Security Agency (NSA) and US Cyber Command, joined the company’s board of directors and its Safety and Security Committee. He later also joined the board of cybersecurity firm WitnessAI.

Other technology and defense companies have also recruited former senior Pentagon officials.

Former Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy has joined the boards of several defense and technology companies, including Lynx Software Technologies and CACI International.

Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper joined the board of defense technology firm Epirus in 2021, while His predecessor, James Mattis, returned to the board of defense contractor General Dynamics in 2019 after leaving the Pentagon.

Will Roper, a former assistant secretary of the US Air Force responsible for acquisition, technology, and logistics, joined the board of drone manufacturer Volansi in 2021.

Former NSA director Keith Alexander also joined Amazon’s board in 2020 while serving as co-CEO of cybersecurity firm IronNet.