Lt .Gen. Dan Razin Caine Biography
Lt .Gen. Dan Razin Caine Biography:Lt. Gen. Dan Caine was sworn in as the Associate Director for Military Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C., Nov. 3, 2021. His most recent assignment was as the Director of Special Programs and the Department of Defense special Access Program Central Office at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, where he served as the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary of Defense for all programs protected under special access controls. He has served in a wide range of operational, staff and joint assignments, primarily as an F-16 fighter pilot, weapons officer, member of the White House staff and special operations officer.
Lt .Gen. Dan Razin Caine Early Life and Education
Born in 1968, Dan Caine developed an early fascination with aviation, inspired by his father, a fighter pilot. This passion led him to pursue a career in the Air Force. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Lt. Gen. Caine was commissioned in 1990 through the ROTC program at the Virginia Military Institute and he has a Master of Arts in Air Warfare from the American Military University. He has completed a range of national security and leadership courses, including Harvard Kennedy School’s course for Senior Executives in National and International Security, and the Syracuse University Maxwell School’s Program on National Security. As a command pilot, he has logged more than 2,800 hours in the F-16, including more than 150 combat hours. From 2009-2016, Caine was a part-time member of the National Guard and a serial entrepreneur and investor.1990 Bachelor of Arts, Economics, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
1999 Air Force Weapons School Instructor Course, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
2001 Air Force Air to Ground Operations School, Nellis, AFB, Nev.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2005 Master of Arts, Air Warfare, American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va.
2006 White House Fellow, Air Force Fellows Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
2012 North American Aerospace Defense Command/U.S. Northern Command Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2012 Senior Leaders Maintenance Course, Washington, D.C.
2017 Joint and Combined Warfighting Course (JPME-2), Norfolk, Va.
2019 Capstone, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2019 Senior Executives for National and International Security, The Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2020 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar (ASLDS), Arlie Center, Warrenton, Va.
2020 National and International Security Leadership Seminar (NISLS), Alan L. Freed Associates, Alexandria, Va.
2021 National Security Studies Management Course (NSSMC), Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
Lt .Gen. Dan Razin Caine Career
Caine reached the rank of lieutenant general in 2021, and his most recent government role was associate director for military affairs at the CIA.
The three-star ranking is unusual for an appointee to the top uniformed job in the Pentagon. Every previous appointee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since 1949 has been either a general or an admiral. Brown led the Air Force before he was appointed, and Gen. Mark A. Milley, his predecessor, had been chief of staff of the Army.Upon his commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in 1990, Caine began his military journey by focusing on flight training. Caine’s dedication to aviation and combat readiness quickly distinguished him as a promising officer. He went on to become a fighter pilot, specializing in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a versatile multi-role fighter aircraft.In the early stages of his career, Caine participated in numerous flight exercises, honing his skills as a combat aviator. Over time, he accumulated more than 2,800 hours of flight time, which included over 100 combat hours. His expertise in the F-16 was a significant contribution to U.S. military operations, and it was during this phase that he developed a deep understanding of aerial combat and air superiority.One of the most notable moments of Caine’s career came on September 11, 2001. On this tragic day, when the U.S. was under attack from terrorists, Lt. Gen. Caine was one of the fighter pilots tasked with securing the skies above Washington, D.C. His role was part of a larger operation to protect major U.S. cities, ensuring that the skies remained clear of any further threats. Caine’s actions on that day were critical to the national defense efforts, and they remain a cornerstone of his legacy in the Air Force.Menu
Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine is a retired U.S. Air Force officer recently nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking military officer in the United States. This nomination follows the dismissal of General Charles Q. Brown Jr., who had held the position since October 2023.
General Caine’s military career is distinguished by his extensive experience as a fighter pilot and his leadership in special operations. He has logged over 2,800 hours in the F-16, including more than 100 combat hours. Notably, he was among the pilots tasked with protecting Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001, during the terrorist attacks.
In 2018, while serving as the deputy commander of a special operations task force combating ISIS, General Caine reportedly told President Trump that the militant group could be eradicated within a week—a statement that reportedly resonated with the president.
On February 21, 2025, President Trump announced his intention to nominate General Caine as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, succeeding General Brown. This nomination is part of a broader shake-up of U.S. military leadership, which includes the dismissal of other senior officers.
Lt. Gen. Dan Razin Caine’s military career is defined by his versatility, resilience, and leadership in various high-stakes roles across different domains within the United States Air Force and other national security agencies. His career spans over three decades, during which he not only excelled as a fighter pilot but also demonstrated exceptional leadership in counterterrorism and intelligence operations,Upon his commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in 1990, Caine began his military journey by focusing on flight training. Caine’s dedication to aviation and combat readiness quickly distinguished him as a promising officer. He went on to become a fighter pilot, specializing in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a versatile multi-role fighter aircraft.
In the early stages of his career, Caine participated in numerous flight exercises, honing his skills as a combat aviator. Over time, he accumulated more than 2,800 hours of flight time, which included over 100 combat hours. His expertise in the F-16 was a significant contribution to U.S. military operations, and it was during this phase that he developed a deep understanding of aerial combat and air superiority.One of the most notable moments of Caine’s career came on September 11, 2001. On this tragic day, when the U.S. was under attack from terrorists, Lt. Gen. Caine was one of the fighter pilots tasked with securing the skies above Washington, D.C. His role was part of a larger operation to protect major U.S. cities, ensuring that the skies remained clear of any further threats. Caine’s actions on that day were critical to the national defense efforts, and they remain a cornerstone of his legacy in the Air Force.
Special Operations and Leadership Roles
After establishing himself as a skilled pilot, Caine moved into more strategic and operational leadership roles. In 2018, he was appointed as the Deputy Commander of Special Operations Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, a role that required him to lead special operations forces in Iraq and Syria, focusing on countering the ISIS terrorist group. This position was pivotal in his development as a leader of joint military operations.While leading the task force, Caine was instrumental in overseeing a range of operations that were critical in dismantling ISIS and cutting off the group’s access to resources. Under his leadership, special operations forces worked closely with other U.S. military branches and coalition allies to carry out precision strikes against high-value ISIS targets.
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Lt .Gen. Dan Razin Caine personal life
Caine is married and has children. Details about his family life are kept private, reflecting his preference for maintaining a low profile outside of his professional commitments.
Lt .Gen. Dan Razin Caine Net worth
His net worth is kept private ,reflecting his preference for maintaining a low profile outside of his professional commitments.