On September 12, 2026, former Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll made his first public statement since leaving the Trump administration. Speaking at the Yalta European Strategy forum in Kyiv, Driscoll highlighted the need for military innovation, noting that the world’s largest armed forces lack the necessary speed and innovation.
Driscoll, wearing a tie with a traditional Ukrainian design, was joined by Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google and current head of Perennial Autonomy, a defense firm active in Ukraine. They praised Kyiv’s military advancements, particularly ‘DELTA,’ a software platform that integrates radar, sensor, and soldier data to create a comprehensive battlefield view. Driscoll claimed this technology exceeds U.S. military capabilities.
Driscoll expressed optimism about Ukraine’s expanding AI and processing power, suggesting it presents an opportunity to outpace, innovate, and ally effectively against Russian forces. His remarks were made at an annual conference hosted by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria moderating the discussion.
Driscoll, an Iraq War veteran and friend of Vice President JD Vance, played a significant role in the administration’s efforts to end Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. Despite clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over modernization and senior officer removals, his resignation was announced on August 31 without specific reasons from the White House.
During his tenure, Driscoll urged the U.S. military to adopt lessons from Ukraine’s war. This led to procurement reforms in January to expedite weapon access for soldiers, influenced by the conflict with Iran. Perennial Autonomy provided ‘Merops’ and ‘Bumblebee’ drones in response to U.S. defense deficiencies against Iranian drones.
Schmidt emphasized the need for long-term government planning to anticipate such needs. Driscoll advocated for learning from Ukraine’s adaptive strategies while addressing a diverse audience of Ukrainian, European, and American officials.
The forum highlighted a disparity between U.S. and Ukrainian drone production. Despite the projected gap, Driscoll defended his administration’s support for Ukraine but admitted it may not have met Kyiv’s expectations fully.
Driscoll shared his decision to contribute more effectively outside of government, aiming to enhance global safety during uncertain times.
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