Dan Caine

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Dan Caine
Lt Gen John D. Caine.jpg
Birth nameJohn Daniel Caine
Born1968or1969(age 56–57)
Elmira, New York, U.S.
Service / branch United States Air Force
Years of service1990–2024
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands Associate Director for Military Affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency
Special Access Programs Central Office
Battles / wars Iraq War
Operation Inherent Resolve
Awards Defense Superior Service Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star (2)
Alma mater Virginia Military Institute (BS)
American Military University (MS)

John Daniel Caine (born 1968/1969) is an American retired lieutenant general and venture capitalist who served as the associate director for military affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2021 to 2024. In February 2025, he was named as President Donald Trump's nominee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, following the dismissal of General Charles Q. Brown Jr.

Contents

Caine graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1990. He was commissioned shortly thereafter, serving in various roles within the United States Air Force. He served as a deputy commanding general for Operation Inherent Resolve from 2018 to 2019 and the director of special-access programs in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment from 2019 to 2021.

In February 2025, Trump dismissed Brown as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, naming Caine as his nominee to replace him. If confirmed by the Senate, Caine would be the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to have never served at the rank of four-star general or admiral before assuming the position and the first to be nominated in retirement. [a]

Early life and education

Caine was born in 1968 or 1969. [1] He graduated from Hahn American High School in Hahn, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. [2] In 1990, Caine graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a degree in economics. [3] He later graduated from American Military University with a master's degree in air warfare. [3]

Career

Military service (1990–2024)

Caine in Mosul, Iraq, in June 2018, with Iraqi general Najim Abdullah al-Jubouri BG Caine Visits Mosul 4.jpg
Caine in Mosul, Iraq, in June 2018, with Iraqi general Najim Abdullah al-Jubouri

Caine was commissioned through the Virginia Military Institute's Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1990, [4] and he was inducted into the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program. [1] as of February 2025, Caine has 150 combat hours and two tours in Iraq. [5] He was among the pilots who protected Washington, D.C. in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks [6] as the chief of weapons and tactics for the 121st Fighter Squadron. [7] Caine was a part-time member of the Air National Guard from 2009 to 2016. [3] He has a total of 2,800 flight hours, including over 100 combat hours on the F-16. [8] He served as a deputy commanding general for Operation Inherent Resolve from 2018 to 2019 and was the director of special-access programs in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment from 2019 to 2021. Caine achieved the rank of lieutenant general in 2021. He served as the associate director for military affairs from November 2021 [9] until December 2024. [10] He earned the nickname "Razin Caine" [b] for his "aggressive" behavior as a pilot, a reference to the idiom "raising Cain" for someone who causes trouble. [11]

Public and private sector (2003–present)

From 2005 to 2006, [1] Caine was a special assistant to the United States Secretary of Agriculture [6] as part of the White House Fellows program. [12] He also served as a policy director for counterterrorism within the Homeland Security Council [6] in 2008. [1] During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Caine developed a plan to counter Scud missiles possessed by Iraqi forces. [13] His Air Force biography describes him as a "serial entrepreneur and investor". According to his LinkedIn page, he has advised Voyager, a space technology company. [10] In January 2025, he joined Shield Capital, a venture capital firm. [14] Caine is a partner at Ribbit Capital and an advisor for Thrive Capital. [7] He is the co-founder of RISE Air. [15]

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

On 21 February 2025, President Donald Trump dismissed Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, naming Caine as his nominee to replace him. [16] [5] Speaking at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump said he had encountered Caine in Iraq in December 2018. [16] According to Trump, Caine told him, "I love you, sir. I think you’re great, sir. I’ll kill for you, sir." Caine allegedly claimed that he could defeat ISIS in a week, requesting permission to initiate mass strikes. Caine was said by Trump to have worn a MAGA hat, a detail disputed by his aides; active-duty troops are not permitted to wear political merchandise. [3] According to The New York Times , Caine met with Trump and vice president JD Vance the week prior. [16] The Times later reported that Caine was considered for the position over Michael Kurilla, the commander of United States Central Command. [15]

If confirmed by the Senate, Caine would be the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to have never served at the rank of general or admiral before assuming the position [10] and the first to have been retired at the time of their confirmation. Caine would be the second retired general to serve as chairman after Maxwell Taylor in 1962, though Taylor was called into active duty the year prior after retiring in 1959. [17] He would also be the first chairman to have never served within the Joint Chiefs of Staff since Hugh Shelton in 1997. [17] Title 10 of the United States Code requires the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to be selected from the officers of the regular components of the armed forces and only if the officer had served as a combatant, unified, or specified commander, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or the highest uniformed officer in one of the six military service branches, though Trump may seek a congressional waiver if necessary in the national interest. [16]

Dates of rank

Caine's dates of rank are: [18]

InsigniaRankDate
US-O9 insignia.svg Lieutenant general 3 November 2021
US-O8 insignia.svg Major general 9 September 2019
US-O7 insignia.svg Brigadier general 5 May 2016
US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel 10 January 2011
US-O5 insignia.svg Lieutenant colonel 8 April 2005
US-O4 insignia.svg Major 28 December 2000
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain 10 October 1995
US-OF1A.svg First lieutenant 1 October 1993
US-OF1B.svg Second lieutenant 1 October 1990

Awards and decorations

Caine's awards and decorations include: [12]

COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png
Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze Star ribbon.svg
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Medal ribbon.svg
Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air and Space Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Air Force Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Valor device.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg
Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ribbon.svg Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame.png
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air and Space Longevity Service Award.svg
Armed Forces Reserve Medal ribbon.svg Air and Space Training Ribbon.svg
Command Pilot Badge
Defense Superior Service Medal Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal
with bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal
with bronze oak leaf cluster		 Air Medal
with bronze oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal Air and Space Commendation Medal
with two bronze oak leaf clusters		 Air Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
with three bronze oak leaf clusters and "V" device 		Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
Iraq Campaign Medal National Defense Service Medal
with bronze service star 		Iraq Campaign Medal
with two bronze service stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon
with gold frame
Air and Space Longevity Service Award Armed Forces Reserve Medal
with silver hourglass and "M" device		 Air and Space Training Ribbon

Notes

  1. ↑ Maxwell Taylor was nominated as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by president John F. Kennedy in 1962 after retiring in 1959, though he was called into active duty the year prior.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000008-QINU`"'
  2. ↑ The spelling of Caine's nickname varies, including "Raizin Caine"'"`UNIQ--ref-00000017-QINU`"' and "Raisin Caine".'"`UNIQ--ref-00000018-QINU`"' In his announcement nominating Caine as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, president Donald Trump wrote "Razin Caine".'"`UNIQ--ref-00000019-QINU`"'

References

Works cited

Articles

Documents

Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Commanding General of Special Operations Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve
2018–2019		Succeeded by
???
Preceded by Director of Special Access Program Central Office of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
2019–2021		Succeeded by
Preceded by Associate Director for Military Affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency
2021–2024		Succeeded by
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