UJ
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The recently retired Air Force general, announced by President Donald Trump as the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff following the sudden Friday night dismissal of his predecessor, is a well-respected career F-16 pilot who has been characterized by both current and former colleagues as a dedicated professional possessing a “strong moral center.”
John Dan “Razin” Caine, who caught Trump’s attention in 2018 for his role in combating ISIS, has dedicated much of his career to special operations and collaboration with the intelligence community, with officials noting he is composed, humble, and non-political. His work, being highly classified, has kept him largely out of the spotlight, a position he has preferred.
“There’s a notion that he was chosen because he’s a political figure,” said a military official who has worked alongside Caine and has known him for over ten years. “In my experience both personally and professionally, I’ve never seen any signs of partisanship in him; he’s never been biased towards any political party or raised political issues during our time together.”
Caine, who retired in December as a three-star lieutenant general, found himself at the center of a political uproar following Trump’s unexpected announcement on Friday to replace Gen. Charles Q. Brown, who had been the chairman of the Joint Chiefs since October 2023.
It is uncommon for a retired general to be recalled to active duty, though it has happened in the past. For instance, Army Gen. Peter Schoomaker was recalled in 2003 to serve as Army chief of staff.
Moreover, it is quite rare for a three-star general to be promoted to four-star status when appointed as the nation’s top military officer. Historically, past chairmen have earned their fourth star by first leading a combat command or serving as a service chief before ascending to the role of principal military adviser to the president.
However, Caine has faced unexpected challenges previously. On September 11, he was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, DC, and while not scheduled for a flight, he ultimately took on the role of mission commander over the capital, armed with air-to-air missiles and prepared for potential threats to the nation, as he shared in a recent interview on “The Afterburn Podcast.”
“It’s about the willingness to protect and defend our nation and to collaborate with incredible professionals who are equally ready to stand up for our country,” Caine stated.
For years, Trump has praised Caine since they met in Iraq during the president’s initial term. At that time, Caine served as the deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command’s Special Operations Component and the deputy commander of the Special Operations Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2019, Trump remarked that Caine was straight out of “central casting” and recounted Caine’s assertion in Iraq that he could conclude the campaign against ISIS “in just a week.”
“I asked, ‘Why didn’t my other generals tell me that? Why wasn’t that communicated?’” Trump stated in 2019. In a post on Truth Social on Friday night, Trump termed Caine a “warfighter” who played a key role in the “complete annihilation of the ISIS caliphate.”
Trump has also asserted that Caine expressed admiration for him and said he would “kill for you” while wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.
However, the military official who worked with Caine clarified on Saturday that Caine “doesn’t own a MAGA hat; he’s never worn one.”
The official further noted that before accepting the chairmanship, Caine wanted to ensure that Brown was “treated respectfully and personally.”
“Throughout the last decade, Gen. Caine has demonstrated character, integrity, and humility,” the military official remarked. “I’ve never seen him fail to do what’s right. He consistently prioritizes the mission and never shies away from tough conversations or hard decisions on the battlefield.”
Caine, an F-16 pilot with more than 150 combat flight hours, joined the military in October 1990 through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at the Virginia Military Institute, according to his official biography. Caine referred to his father’s career as a fighter pilot as “the family business” during his interview with “The Afterburn.”
His career path was quite unique, progressing from an Air National Guard fighter pilot to prominent roles in Joint Special Operations Command. After retiring in December, Caine joined a venture capital firm named Shield Capital, and he has also been a “serial entrepreneur and investor” between 2009 and 2016 while serving part-time in the National Guard, as outlined in his official Air Force biography.
His military accolades include the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in flight, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and a Bronze Star with a bronze oak leaf cluster.
In a podcast interview, Caine recognized his unusual career trajectory, stating he entered the Special Operations Forces community due to numerous deployments alongside them over the years.
“My relationship-building and collective deployments drew me into the SOF community,” he explained. “It truly centers around relationships.” Caine remarked that his engagement with SOF dates back to assisting with air operations planning to locate Iraqi Scud missiles during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He emphasized the importance of being “humble, credible, and approachable” throughout his career.
“I was unable and never inclined to drink my own Kool-Aid,” Caine remarked.
During the video segment of the podcast, Caine is seen wearing several bracelets that honor those who have fallen in past conflicts and those he has served alongside — including a black bracelet for interagency remembrance, a blue one recognizing the 121 personnel lost from Air America, the CIA’s covert airline during Vietnam, and a green bracelet in memory of the more than 60 service members who were either killed in combat or whom he commanded, as shared by the military official with UJ.
While generally modest, Caine was described as “extremely aggressive” in the cockpit, often pushing the aircraft to its limits and exhibiting a “bit of a wild man” attitude while piloting, according to the military official. This earned him the call sign “Razin,” a play on his last name and the phrase “raising Cain,” used to denote someone who disrupts or behaves rowdily.
In 2021, toward the end of Caine’s profession, he served as the associate director for military affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency — acting as the agency’s primary liaison with the Defense Department. Before that, he played a major role in overseeing critical intelligence and operations within the Pentagon.
Caine’s relationship with the intelligence community stands in stark contrast to Trump’s long-held skepticism; Caine has referred to his time at the CIA from 2021 to 2024 as one of the most remarkable honors of his career.
“I have no clue how I was selected, but I’m incredibly grateful for it,” Caine shared with “The Afterburn,” referring to the CIA as “a very special place.”
“Working at the CIA is akin to Fight Club: You don’t discuss Fight Club,” he remarked. “However, there are world-class professionals working diligently every day in ways beyond imagination. Serving alongside them is a profound honor and privilege. Each day, I woke up determined to earn the privilege of working there.”
Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, former head of US Central Command, told UJ he collaborated on “numerous highly sensitive operations” with Caine during his tenure at the CIA.
“I found Caine to be exceptionally skilled, highly professional, and a commendable officer in every respect,” McKenzie stated on Saturday, adding that Caine is personable and amiable, coupled with “a strong moral center.”
Caine has refrained from discussing politics in his sparse public comments over the years. However, in the podcast, he emphasized the necessity of reforming the Pentagon’s acquisition process — an initiative that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has also identified as a priority in recent times.
“As a warfighting nation, our ability to swiftly adapt and stay ahead of emerging technologies is vital for the future,” asserted Caine. “There are numerous areas where we must improve as a joint force and as the Department of Defense regarding acquisition reform, ensuring that our young privates, E-1s, E-2s, and noncommissioned officers have the necessary equipment and capabilities.”
