When a leaked US-Russia peace plan sparked alarm in Ukraine and Europe last week, the Trump administration turned to an unexpected figure to manage the fallout: Dan Driscoll.
At 39, Driscoll is the youngest-ever Army Secretary, known inside the administration as the president’s “drone guy” for his focus on battlefield technology. Until now, his role has been largely domestic, dealing with military budgets and internal affairs. His sudden dispatch to high-stakes international talks marks a rapid and significant expansion of his influence.
Driscoll’s ascent is inextricably linked to Vice President JD Vance. The two met at Yale Law School, bonded over their shared military backgrounds, and became close friends. When Vance was selected as Trump’s running mate in 2024, he immediately summoned Driscoll, who was on vacation in Switzerland, to join the campaign.
Upon the administration’s return to power, Driscoll was confirmed as Army Secretary. His profile rose further after he managed the deployment of the National Guard to several U.S. cities and briefly served as acting director of the ATF.
A Drone Advocate Enters the Diplomatic Arena
Driscoll has long pointed to the war in Ukraine as a case study for his vision of a cheaper, drone-centric military. However, peace negotiations were initially led by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
That changed after the leak of the proposed peace terms. Driscoll led the most senior Pentagon delegation to Kyiv since Trump took office, meeting with President Zelensky. He then joined Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Witkoff, and Jared Kushner for refined talks in Geneva, and subsequently held discussions with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi.
President Trump confirmed the new dynamic this week, stating that while Witkoff would meet with Vladimir Putin, Driscoll would lead talks with the Ukrainian side.
A Political Future
Driscoll’s sudden prominence has fueled speculation about his next move. Some in Washington see him as a potential successor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or a candidate to officially take over Ukraine envoy duties.
His vision for the military is clear. In a recent podcast, he described a future where “every infantryman… will carry a drone into battle,” and has argued the U.S. must “win with silicon and software, not our soldiers’ blood and bodies.” Having now stepped from that technological vision into the heart of international diplomacy, Dan Driscoll’s role in shaping the end of the war—and the future of the U.S. military—appears to be just beginning.
By James Kisoo
