OpenAI hires ex-Army Secretary, gaining bipartisan reach just as midterms loom
Summary
- OpenAI hired former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll as Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization to advise on defense operations.
- Driscoll previously led AI modernization efforts across the US Army and is expected to leverage his connections to secure government contracts.
- The appointment follows OpenAI's Pentagon contract for classified networks secured in February 2026 after rival Anthropic faced restrictions.
- Driscoll brings bipartisan ties in Congress and defense procurement experience following his resignation from the Department of the Army.
Why it matters
OpenAI's strategic hire of a former high-ranking military official signals an aggressive push to capture defense sector contracts and influence military AI policy.