Retired Air Force Lieutenant General John Dan “Razin” Caine has been confirmed as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff following a vote by the Senate conducted in the early hours of the morning. The vote, which resulted in a 60-25 decision, took place shortly after 2 a.m. on Friday, shortly before the Senate commenced a two-week adjournment.
This confirmation follows President Trump’s decision to dismiss Caine’s predecessor, Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr., over six weeks ago. The dismissal was part of a broader reshuffle within the Pentagon that raised concerns among Democrats and prompted Republicans to advocate for Caine’s swift confirmation.
“The Chinese Communist Party is expanding its military capabilities, and adversaries are aligning against the United States,” stated Senator Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee. He emphasized the necessity of having the country’s highest-ranking military officer in place without delay for the president’s benefit.
Caine now serves as the top military officer in the nation and as the primary military advisor to the president, the secretary of defense, and the National Security Council. His extensive career includes his role as an experienced fighter jet pilot who patrolled Washington, D.C.’s airspace immediately following the September 11 attacks, as well as his service in the Middle East combating the Islamic State. He also held a position at the CIA.
Despite having accumulated 34 years of military experience, Caine has not occupied any roles that are legally required to assume the position of Joint Chiefs chair. However, the president has the authority to waive these requirements if deemed necessary for national interests.
Caine was relatively unknown prior to his nomination in February, with officials on Capitol Hill and within the Pentagon needing to search his name online for details. During his confirmation hearing held earlier in the month, Caine expressed his desire to gain the trust of both the senators and the American public.
“If confirmed, I intend to uphold the principles and standards of my oath and serve as a nonpartisan leader who consistently aims to do what is right,” he affirmed during his hearing.
Caine has enjoyed a distinguished career, most recently serving as the associate director for military affairs at the CIA, a position he held from November 2021 until his retirement in December 2024. In order to take on the role of chair, he was reinstated to active service and promoted to four-star general. Caine initially received his commission through an ROTC program at the Virginia Military Institute in 1990 and has logged over 150 combat hours as an F-16 fighter pilot.
On September 11, 2001, Caine was among the pilots tasked with defending the airspace above Washington, marking the first deployment of fighter jets over the nation’s capital. From 2009 to 2016, he also served in the National Guard and worked as deputy commander in the U.S. campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Outside of his military career, Caine has been described as a “serial entrepreneur and investor” and holds advisory roles with several venture capital firms and the defense and space exploration company Voyager. The relationship between Caine and President Trump dates back to 2019, when they first met in Iraq. The general impressed Trump with his candidness about the conflict with the Islamic State, suggesting a timeline that contrasted significantly with information previously provided to the president.
Caine’s nomination followed the dismissal of the previous Joint Chiefs chairman, General Brown, by President Trump. The move was part of a series of actions that saw several other top military figures dismissed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as criticizing those who he felt supported a “woke” agenda at the Pentagon. Hegseth expressed confidence in Caine to rise to the occasion, despite criticisms regarding the reshuffling’s potential to destabilize military leadership.
During his confirmation hearing, Caine was questioned about his willingness to oppose unconstitutional directives, to which he responded affirmatively, indicating his awareness of the responsibilities associated with his position.
