This image provided by the U.S. Air Force features Lt. Gen. Dan Caine.

U.S. Air Force/AP

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U.S. Air Force/AP

President Trump announced his intention to nominate retired Air Force Lt. Gen. John Dan “Razin” Caine, a veteran fighter pilot who patrolled over Washington, D.C. during the 9/11 attacks, supported operations in the Middle East against the Islamic State, and later served at the CIA, for the role of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff holds the position of the highest-ranking military officer in the United States and serves as the primary military advisor to the president, the secretary of defense, and the National Security Council.

Caine’s nomination is notable as he is a relatively unknown figure in the military landscape. Anonymous sources from both Capitol Hill and the Pentagon indicated they had to search for his name online.

Caine has not previously held any of the essential positions commonly associated with this nomination, such as Joint Chiefs vice chairman, or head of a combatant command, as required by law. Nevertheless, the president holds the authority to waive these prerequisites if he deems it necessary for national interests.

This nomination is part of a broader transformation occurring at the Pentagon.

It follows the dismissal of the former chairman, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., who was selected by the previous administration in 2023.

Brown faced allegations of promoting a “woke” agenda, as outlined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his publication, The War on Warriors, where Hegseth implied that Brown’s race may have influenced his appointment.

In a statement, Hegseth asserted that the new appointee must embody the “warfighter ethos” necessary for the nation, emphasizing the requirement to concentrate the military’s efforts on its pivotal mission of deterrence, combat, and victorious outcomes.

During his announcement, Trump characterized Caine as “a skilled pilot, national security specialist, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with extensive interagency and special operations experience.”

Trump noted that Caine had been “overlooked for a promotion” by Biden.

Caine was among the pilots tasked with protecting D.C. on 9/11

Recently, Caine served as the associate director for military affairs at the CIA, a role he commenced in November 2021.

Commissioned in 1990 through an ROTC program at the Virginia Military Institute, Caine primarily served as an F-16 pilot during his active duty, logging over 150 combat hours, according to his military biography.

On September 11, 2001, he was one of the pilots protecting the airspace over Washington after the terrorist attacks, an event that witnessed the unprecedented deployment of fighter jets in the nation’s capital.

Trump’s nomination of Caine is part of a larger realignment at the Pentagon.

This shift comes after the dismissal of Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., who was appointed by Biden in 2023.

Brown was criticized by Secretary Hegseth for allegedly advocating a “woke” agenda. In his book, The War on Warriors, Hegseth suggested that Brown’s race may have unduly influenced his selection for the role.

In a recent statement, Hegseth stated that it’s crucial for the new chairman to embody “the warfighter ethos” required for today’s military, emphasizing the need for leadership focused on deterring and winning conflicts.

In his announcement, Trump highlighted Caine’s extensive qualifications as “an esteemed pilot, national security consultant, successful business leader, and a ‘warfighter’ well-versed in interagency operations and special operations.”

Trump also pointed out that Caine had been “skipped over for advancement” by the previous administration.

Caine was among the pilots tasked with protecting D.C. on 9/11

Most recently, Caine was the associate director of military affairs at the CIA, a role he started in November 2021.

He earned his commission in 1990 through an ROTC program at the Virginia Military Institute, where he flew as an F-16 pilot throughout his active duty, tallying over 150 combat hours, according to his military biography.

On September 11, 2001, he was one of the pilots assigned to secure Washington’s airspace in the wake of the terrorist attacks, marking the first deployment of fighter jets over the capital.

“I distinctly remember advising my wingman before our flight on that day, ‘Do not engage unless I say so.’ I was fully aware that a mistake or indecision could lead to devastating consequences,” he stated in a 2023 CIA video.

“The safety of those on the ground, as well as the security of our nation, depended on our actions.”

Caine has also served in the National Guard from 2009 to 2016.

He acted as deputy commander during the U.S. campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria from May 2018 to September 2019, as noted in his military biography.

Additionally, he is described as a “serial entrepreneur and investor,” with involvement in various business ventures.

His LinkedIn profile indicates that Caine is a member of the advisory board for several venture capital firms and also holds a position within the defense and space exploration company Voyager.

Trump has been promoting Caine since 2019

During the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump shared the story of his first encounter with Caine in Iraq, where Caine introduced himself with the nickname “Razin.”

“‘Raisin, like the fruit?’ ‘Yes, sir, Razin.’ ‘What’s your last name?’ ‘Caine. Razin Caine.’ I was taken aback,” Trump recounted.

According to Trump, Caine confidently suggested that the Islamic State could be defeated within a week, whereas Trump had previously been informed it would take two years. Caine clarified that the challenges stemmed from bureaucratic orders originating from Washington rather than insights from the battlefield.

“For the first time, you sought our input,” Caine told Trump, as the president reminisced. “I responded, ‘I’ll be in touch with you soon, Razin. You’ve made a strong impression on me,'” Trump shared, adding, “I appreciate you, Razin Caine.”

Trump referred to this meeting again at last year’s CPAC, though in his retelling, Caine claimed that the defeat of ISIS could occur in four weeks instead of one.

Trump recounted Caine stating, “‘I admire you, sir. You’re wonderful, sir. I would do anything for you, sir.'”

Caine has not yet responded to requests for comment.