Daniel Patrick Driscoll is an American politician, businessman, lawyer, and former military officer serving as the 26th United States secretary of the Army since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he was a candidate for North Carolina's 11th congressional district in 2020.
Early life and education
Driscoll was raised in Banner Elk, North Carolina where he has deep ties.[1] Using the post 9-11 GI Bill, he earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School after his military service.[2] He was a Yale classmate and friend of Vice President JD Vance,[3] former national security advisor Jake Sullivan, and Matt Blumenthal (the son of U.S. senator from Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal).[4] Driscoll's father was an infantryman in the Vietnam War and his grandfather served in World War II.[5]
Career
Driscoll was in the United States Army for three and a half years serving as a lieutenant. He was an armor officer between August 2007 and March 2011 and a cavalry scout platoon leader with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. He deployed to Iraq for nine months in October 2009. Driscoll earned his Ranger tab at U.S. Army Ranger School and Combat Action Badge.[5] Driscoll later interned for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs[6] and worked at an investment bank in Charlotte, North Carolina.
During law school, Driscoll interned for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Ninth Circuit chief judge Alex Kozinski, Cravath, Swaine & Moore, and Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson.[6] Driscoll then ran for the Republican nomination to represent North Carolina's 11th congressional district in the 2020 election.[7]
Secretary of the Army
On December 4, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Driscoll to be the secretary of the Army for his second administration.[8] The Senate confirmation hearing was held on January 30, 2025[9] amidst cabinet officials for ODNI, FBI, and HHS.[10]
On February 25, 2025, the United States Senate confirmed Driscoll to the position of secretary of the Army by a 66-28 vote.[11]
Personal life
Driscoll is from Boone, North Carolina and is married to Cassie Driscoll, a plastic surgeon. They have two children, Daniel Jr. and Lila.[12]
References
- ^ "Driscoll, of Boone, appointed as Secretary of the Army". The Carolina Journal. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Chavez, Karen. "Republican businessman Dan Driscoll runs for 11th District on security, job creation". Henderson Times-News. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Evans, Nick (15 July 2024). "How J.D. Vance went from 'Hillbilly Elegy' to being tapped as Trump's 2024 running mate". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Myers, Meghann (30 January 2025). "Army secretary nominee talks drones, recruiting, and lawful orders at confirmation hearing". Defense One. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ a b Nieberg, Patty (30 January 2025). "Senators grilled Army secretary nominee for 2 hours. Quality-of-life issues barely came up". Task & Purpose. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ a b "A Former Soldier Brings His Experiences to YLS" (PDF). Development News - Yale Law Report, Summer 2013. 2024-12-04. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ Chavez, Karen (7 February 2020). "Republican businessman Dan Driscoll runs for 11th District on security, job creation". Blue Ridge Times-Now. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Pandolfo, Chris (4 December 2024). "Trump announces picks for Army secretary, trade adviser, hostage envoy, NASA administrator and more". Fox News. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Harper, Jon (30 January 2025). "Trump's nominee for Army secretary calls for buying more commercial off-the-shelf tech". Defense Scoop. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Fattal, Isabel (30 January 2025). "What Trump's Nominees Revealed". The Atlantic Daily. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ^ Meyn, Colin. "Senate confirms Vance advisor as Army secretary". The Hill. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ Trump, Donald J. (4 December 2024). "Statement by President-elect Donald J. Trump Announcing the Nomination of Daniel P. Driscoll as Secretary of the Army". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
