CNN
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Recently, President Donald Trump appointed a retired Air Force general as the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, following the unexpected dismissal of his predecessor on a Friday night. The new chairman, an accomplished F-16 pilot, is recognized by both current and former officials as a dedicated professional with a “strong moral compass.”

John Dan “Razin” Caine first caught Trump’s attention in 2018 for his role in combating ISIS. He has dedicated a significant portion of his career to special operations and collaboration with the intelligence community, earning a reputation as humble, mild-mannered, and politically neutral, according to official sources. Caine has preferred to maintain a low profile due to the highly classified nature of his work.

A military official who has worked alongside Caine for over a decade told CNN, “There’s a misconception that he was chosen for partisan reasons. In my experience with him, he has never shown any political bias or discussed politics during our time together.”

Caine, who retired as a three-star lieutenant general in December, found himself at the heart of a political storm following Trump’s surprising announcement to replace Gen. Charles Q. Brown, who had been serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs since October 2023.

It is quite unusual for a retired general to be reactivated, yet such circumstances have arisen in the past; for instance, Army Gen. Peter Schoomaker was recalled in 2003 to assume the role of Army chief of staff.

Typically, a three-star general does not receive a fourth star upon being appointed as the country’s top military officer. Traditionally, prior chairmen have achieved this rank after leading combatant commands or serving as service chiefs before becoming the principal military adviser to the president.

However, Caine is no stranger to unexpected circumstances. On September 11, 2001, he was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, and although he was not initially scheduled to fly, he became the mission commander responsible for the defense of Washington, D.C., equipped with air-to-air missiles to counter potential threats, as he recounted in a recent interview on “The Afterburn Podcast.”

Caine emphasized, “It’s about a commitment to protect and defend this nation and to collaborate with dedicated professionals who are equally determined to safeguard our country.”

Trump has praised Caine for years after their initial meeting in Iraq during the president’s first term when Caine was the deputy commander of the US Central Command’s Special Operations Component.

During a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2019, Trump described Caine as a person who seemed “to come straight out of central casting.” He recalled Caine asserting during their meeting that the fight against ISIS could be “completely finished in a week.”

Trump remarked, “I wondered why my other generals hadn’t mentioned that to me before.” In a post on Truth Social on Friday night, he referred to Caine as a “warfighter” instrumental in the complete destruction of the ISIS caliphate.

Trump also claimed that Caine professed his admiration for him, stating he would “kill for you” while sporting a “Make America Great Again” hat.

Nevertheless, a military official familiar with Caine clarified that he does not own a MAGA hat and has never worn one.

Prior to stepping into the chairmanship, Caine wanted to ensure that Brown was treated with respect and care.

“Throughout the decade I’ve known General Caine, I’ve seen him consistently demonstrate character, integrity, and humility,” the military official stated. “He never shies away from making difficult decisions or having tough conversations, always remaining mission-focused.”

Caine, a seasoned F-16 pilot with over 150 combat flight hours, was commissioned in October 1990 through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at the Virginia Military Institute. With a family history of military service, Caine referred to this vocation as “the family business” during his appearance on “The Afterburn.”

His career path has been distinctive, advancing from an Air National Guard fighter pilot to senior roles within Joint Special Operations Command. After retiring in December, he joined Shield Capital, while from 2009 to 2016, he was engaged in entrepreneurship and investment activities while serving part-time in the National Guard, as noted in his official Air Force biography.

Among Caine’s military honors are the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in flight, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and a Bronze Star with an oak leaf cluster.

In his podcast interview, Caine acknowledged his unique career trajectory, explaining he became part of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community after participating in numerous deployments with them over the years.

“Building relationships during deployments got me into the SOF community,” he noted. “At the core, it’s all about relationships.” Caine reflected on how his initial SOF experience originated during Operation Iraqi Freedom while working on air operations to intercept Iraqi Scud missiles.

He mentioned that he learned to embody qualities such as “humility, credibility, and approachability” earlier in his career.

“I was never inclined to buy into my own hype,” Caine remarked.

In the video segment of the podcast, Caine donned several bracelets to honor fallen comrades from past conflicts, including a black interagency remembrance bracelet, a blue one honoring the 121 Air America operatives lost during the Vietnam War, and a green bracelet commemorating over 60 service members he served with or who served under his command and died in combat, as shared by the military official to CNN.

Known for his modest demeanor, Caine was described as “extremely assertive” in the cockpit, pushing aircraft capabilities to their limits and sometimes deemed “a bit of a wild man” while piloting. His squadron commander playfully dubbed him “Razin,” derived from his surname and the phrase “raising Cain,” which denotes disruptive behavior.

Starting in 2021, toward the end of his military career, Caine served as the associate director for military affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency, acting as the primary liaison between the agency and the Defense Department. Prior to this role, he played a key part in overseeing some of the Pentagon’s most sensitive intelligence and operations.

In stark contrast to Trump’s skepticism toward the intelligence community, Caine regarded his tenure at the CIA as one of his career’s best honors.

“I’m not sure why I was selected, but I am incredibly thankful,” Caine stated on “The Afterburn,” referring to the agency as “a truly exceptional place.”

“Working at the CIA is akin to Fight Club: one doesn’t discuss it,” he explained. “There are world-class experts operating there daily, undertaking initiatives that are beyond our comprehension. Serving with them has been an immense honor for me; I approached each day, striving to earn the privilege of that role.”

Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, the previous head of US Central Command, expressed to CNN that he collaborated with Caine on “numerous highly sensitive operations” during Caine’s time at the CIA.

“In every regard, I found him to be exceptional, extremely professional, and a commendable officer,” McKenzie remarked, noting that Caine is sociable and possesses a “strong moral foundation.”

Caine has refrained from discussing politics in any of his limited public statements over the years. However, in the recent podcast, he emphasized the importance of reforming the Pentagon’s procurement process, a priority echoed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in recent discussions.

“As a nation focused on military readiness, our capacity to adapt swiftly and stay ahead of emerging technologies will be critical moving forward,” Caine asserted, adding that significant improvements are needed within the joint force and the Department of Defense in terms of procurement policies to ensure that new recruits and noncommissioned officers have access to essential equipment and capabilities.