Former Army Secretary Driscoll Calls for Military Innovation at Kyiv Conference

On September 12, 2026, Dan Driscoll, the former Secretary of the Army, made his first public appearance since leaving the Trump administration. He warned of a significant shift in warfare, highlighting that major military forces have not kept pace with necessary innovations.

Driscoll spoke at the Yalta European Strategy forum in Kyiv. Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO and head of Perennial Autonomy, joined him. CNN’s Fareed Zakaria moderated the event. Driscoll and Schmidt praised Ukraine’s military innovations, especially the “DELTA” software platform. This platform integrates data from various sources to provide a comprehensive view of the battlefield, surpassing U.S. military technology.

According to Driscoll, as Ukraine expands its processing power and AI capabilities, it has the potential to surpass Russian capabilities. During the conference, Driscoll emphasized Ukraine’s innovations in wartime technology, stating, “as Ukraine obtains more processing power and expands its AI capabilities, it will have an amazing opportunity for your nation to outrun the Russians, and out-innovate them, and out-partner so that you can crush them.”

Driscoll, an Iraq War veteran and former venture capitalist, resigned after reported clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over senior officer removals and Army modernization. During his tenure, he pushed for reforms to expedite weapon deployment to soldiers. The war with Iran highlighted this urgency when the U.S. lacked defense against Iranian drones. Schmidt’s Perennial Autonomy quickly provided interceptor and reconnaissance drones, aiding the situation.

Driscoll’s experiences at the conference resonated with military leaders as they discussed procurement reforms and the importance of adapting to wartime lessons. However, Driscoll noted that the U.S. had reduced initiatives focusing on Ukraine’s drone warfare lessons. This included disbanding a drone battalion designated for this purpose.

While defending the U.S. administration’s commitment to Ukraine, Driscoll acknowledged that support may not have met all expectations. He expressed a desire to contribute more effectively from outside the government, believing his efforts could better ensure global safety in these uncertain times.