Amidst unexpected developments last week in talks aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including the emergence of a purported US-backed peace plan, the Trump administration unexpectedly deployed a notable figure to a series of international meetings.
Dan Driscoll, the youngest-ever army secretary at 39, is often dubbed President Trump’s “drone guy” due to his strong advocacy for advanced battlefield technologies. Until recently, his focus was primarily on budgetary matters, logistical concerns, and personnel management within the Army.
Driscoll’s background appears to lack extensive engagement with Russian and Ukrainian affairs, diplomatic experience, or previous public office roles.
This raises the question: who is this increasingly prominent figure within the administration?
Driscoll’s relationship with Vice President JD Vance served as the catalyst for his entry into Trump’s inner circle.
Similar to Vance, Driscoll attended a public university before enlisting in the US Army, subsequently earning a law degree from Yale University. Both men also pursued careers in finance post-graduation.
During his military service, Driscoll was commissioned as an officer in 2007, led a cavalry platoon, and served in Iraq for several months in 2009.
He recounts meeting Vance through a veterans’ student organization in law school, where Vance reassured new students, predicting initial feelings of inadequacy that would soon give way to academic success. Vance subsequently became Driscoll’s mentor and friend.
In the summer of 2024, while vacationing in Switzerland, Driscoll received a call from Vance, who informed him of his selection as Trump’s running mate and extended an invitation to join the campaign.
According to an interview in the alumni magazine for the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Driscoll returned to the US the following day, purchased a suit at an outlet mall, and traveled by Uber to the Republican National Convention.
Upon Trump’s return to office, Driscoll’s nomination as army secretary was swiftly confirmed by the Senate. His influence broadened after playing a key role in Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to US cities. He later assumed the role of acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Driscoll has frequently commented on the war in Ukraine, emphasizing the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones as a cost-efficient and readily producible technology for combat.
Despite his knowledge, he was not initially involved in negotiations to end the war after being nominated for the army secretary position. Trump initially relied on his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to develop a ceasefire plan.
Following the leak last week of a 28-point plan allegedly crafted by the US and Russia, Ukraine quickly expressed concerns about several key elements, followed by similar reservations from its European allies.
Subsequently, Driscoll made an unannounced visit to Ukraine alongside other senior Pentagon officials, representing the highest-ranking military delegation to visit Kyiv since Trump’s inauguration in January. According to a US Army spokesperson, the purpose of the visit was to confer with Ukrainian officials and explore avenues for ending the conflict.
Driscoll met with President Zelensky and was subsequently honored at a reception at the US ambassador’s residence, according to Politico.
In the following days, Driscoll engaged in further discussions with Ukrainian representatives in Geneva, accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, contributing to the formulation of an “updated and refined peace framework.”
He then held discussions with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US news partner.
In a social media posting on Tuesday, Trump indicated that, aiming to finalize the peace plan, he directed his envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. He added that Driscoll would meet with the Ukrainian side.
In nominating Driscoll for the role of army secretary, Trump stated that he possessed a “powerful combination of experiences to serve as a disruptor and change agent.”
Some within Washington are speculating whether these qualities and his recent emergence on the international stage suggest that Driscoll could potentially succeed Pete Hegseth as defense secretary in the future.
While never having held elected office, Driscoll previously served as an intern for the Senate’s veteran affairs committee. He also unsuccessfully campaigned for a House seat in North Carolina in 2020. A former professor has suggested that Driscoll harbored ambitions “to serve in the military, attend law school, and enter politics.”
It is also possible that Driscoll could formally assume the responsibility of negotiating with Ukraine when Trump’s special envoy to the country, Keith Kellogg, departs in January.
Alternatively, he could remain in his current position, leading hundreds of thousands of troops in the US Army. Driscoll has highlighted the military service of his father and grandfather, often emphasizing his vision for transforming the Army.
Days prior to his visit to Ukraine, Driscoll described to The Conversation podcast his vision of the near future, envisioning that “every infantryman…will carry a drone into battle” and soldiers will rely on artificial intelligence due to the limitations of human cognitive processing when keeping “up” with the pace of action.
“Our window to change is right now,” he said in a speech in October. “And we will win with silicon and software, not our soldiers’ blood and bodies.”
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