Dan Caine
Dan Caine | |
|---|---|
 Lieutenant General John D. Caine | |
| Born |
John Daniel Caine 10 August 1968 Elmira, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater |
Virginia Military Institute (BS) American Military University (MS) |
| Awards |
Defense Superior Service Medal Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star (2) |
Dan Razin Caine is a former American Air Force officer.[1][2] President Donald Trump stirred controversy by terminating the USA's current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Charles Q. Brown Jr., and announcing his plans to appoint Caine to replace him.[3]
The announcement of Trump's plans to appoint Caine also stiffed controversy.[2][4] Officers on the Joint Chiefs of Staff are, usually appointed two years mid-term in a President's term, for their own four year term. Caine's appointment is the first time a President appointed a retired officer as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are usually chosen from the highest ranked members of their service -- four-star officers, while Caine is currently only a Lieutenant General, a three star General.
Career[edit]
Caine attended the Virginia Military Institute, where he was enrolled in its ROTC program, graduating in 1990.[5][6] For historical reasons, individuals who graduated from VMI's ROTC program are considered equivalently qualified as graduates of the USA's official service academies, like West Point. George C. Marshall, the most senior officer during World War II, entered the Army directly from VMI.
After al Qaeda's attacks on September 11, 2001, Caine was scrambled, and commanded the fighters securing Washington DC from further attacks.[5][7]
Caine retired from active service, in 2009, and served as a reservist until 2016, when he was recalled to active duty.[7]
During the 2009-2016 interrum in his military career his military biography says he was a successful entrepreneur.[7]
Caine held senior posts, in Iraq, after his recall to active duty.[7]
From 2021 to 2024 Caine worked for the Central Intelligence Agency.[7] He was the CIA's principal liaison to the Pentagon, and he was one of several individuals holding the title "associate director for military affairs".
Relationship with Donald Trump, and appointment to the Joint Chiefs of Staff[edit]
According to Donald Trump he met Caine on a visit to Iraq.[5][7] Trump says Caine donned a Maga hat, upon meeting him.[8] Trump says Caine disputed the advice Trump had received from his superiors, telling him ISIS could be defeated in a week. Trump says Caine told him "I'll kill for you sir."[9]
Friends of Caine say he has privately disputed Trump's account he donned a MAGA hat, or that he swore personal loyalty to Trump.[8] Taking a role in politics, while on duty, is a breach of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
References[edit]
- ↑ Natasha Bertrand; Haley Britzky; Oren Liebermann; Bo Lillis (2025-02-23). "How retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine became Trump's pick for Joint Chiefs chairman". CNN. Archived from the original on 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
Shamik Banerjee (2025-02-22). "Who Is John D Caine? Trump Appoints New Joint Chief Of Staff After Firing CQ Brown Jr". Times Now. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
Rank and Seniority – The chairman is traditionally a four-star general or admiral, chosen from one of the service branches.
- ↑
Daniel Johnson (2025-02-22). "Trump's Firing Of Gen. CQ Brown, Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff, Over Racial Justice Advocacy Raises Alarms". Black Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2025-02-24. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
In yet another move breaking with long-standing tradition in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21, Donald Trump fired Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr, who had been the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position that normally is immune to turnover when presidential administrations change hands.
- ↑
"'He's a real general': Dan Caine is Trump's pick for top US military role". France 24. 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
But President Donald Trump's fascination with the retired three-star general, his surprise pick to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appears to go back to their first meeting in Iraq in 2018.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Idrees Ali; Phil Stewart (2025-02-22). "'He's a real general': How Trump chose Dan Caine to be top US military officer". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ↑ "LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN D. CAINE". The National Guard. February 2022. Archived from the original on 2025-02-24. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5
Helene Cooper; Eric Schmitt (2025-02-22). "Dan Caine, Trump's Joint Chiefs Pick, Had Unusual Path to Top Ranks". The New York Times. p. A24. Archived from the original on 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
According to his military biography, General Caine was a part-time member of the Air National Guard from 2009 to 2016 and 'a serial entrepreneur and investor.'
- ↑ 8.0 8.1
"A look at Dan 'Razin' Caine, Trump's pick to be the top US military officer". ABC News. 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
'He said, ‘I’ll kill for you sir,' Trump said. 'Then he puts on a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat.'
- ↑
Will Weissert; Adriana Gomez Licon (2025-02-22). "Who is Dan 'Razin' Caine, Trump's pick to be the next Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman?". PBS News. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
Trump has previously suggested that Caine is a political supporter. In a CPAC speech last year, Trump recalled meeting Caine in 2018 in Iraq when he was visiting troops. 'He said, ‘I’ll kill for you sir,' Trump said. 'Then he puts on a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat.'