Gen. Dan Caine Confirmed as Chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Senate on Friday voted 60-25 to confirm John Dan “Razin” Caine, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

To become chairman, Caine had to emerge from retirement, join active service and be promoted to four-star general.

In late February, Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense and a 2025 Wash100 Award winner, announced President Donald Trump’s intent to nominate Caine to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Gen. Dan Caine’s Career Background

Caine most recently served as CIA’s associate director for military affairs, a role he held from 2021 until his retirement in December 2024.

During his military career, he served in a range of joint, operational and staff assignments. He was an F-16 instructor pilot, weapons officer, White House staff member and special operations officer. He also served in the National Guard from 2009 to 2016.

After retiring from government service, Caine became a venture partner at Ribbit Capital and Shield Capital and served as an adviser at Thrive Capital. He also chaired the national security advisory board at Voyager Space.

The serial entrepreneur and investor co-founded and led multiple defense and aerospace companies, including MultiMission, Global Risk Reduction and BMS Group. He was the co-founder and chief operating officer of Rise Air, an airline company that Surf Air acquired in 2017.

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