John Daniel Caine 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.
Daniel “Razin” Caine is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General who has emerged as a notable figure in military and political spheres, particularly following his nomination by President Donald Trump on February 21, 2025, to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Born in 1968 or 1969 in Elmira, New York, Caine graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1990 with a degree in economics and later earned a master’s in air warfare from American Military University. His military career, spanning over three decades, is marked by his prowess as an F-16 fighter pilot, logging over 2,800 flight hours, including 150 combat hours across two Iraq tours. His aggressive flying style earned him the nickname “Razin,” a nod to the phrase “raising Cain,” symbolizing his disruptive, determined approach.
Caine’s career highlights include key roles in special operations and intelligence. From 2018 to 2019, he served as deputy commanding general for Operation Inherent Resolve, combating ISIS—a role that caught Trump’s attention during a 2018 Iraq visit, where Caine reportedly claimed ISIS could be defeated in weeks. He later directed special-access programs at the Pentagon (2019–2021) and was the CIA’s Associate Director for Military Affairs (2021–2024). Post-retirement, he transitioned into venture capitalism, joining firms like Shield Capital.
His nomination is unconventional: as a retired three-star general, he lacks the traditional four-star rank or combatant command experience typically required for the Joint Chiefs role, necessitating a presidential waiver. Trump has praised Caine as a “warfighter” instrumental in ISIS’s defeat, though some question his senior-level command experience.
On April 1, 2025, Caine delivered this compelling opening statement at his Senate confirmation hearing, emphasizing mission focus and military readiness. If confirmed, he’d be the first retired officer and non-four-star general to assume this position, signaling a shift in Pentagon leadership dynamics.