Posted on Feb 23, 2025
Who is Trump's pick for chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine?
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Caine has not served in any of the roles — Joint Chiefs vice chairman, chief of staff for one of the branches of the armed service, or head of a combatant command — that nominees are legally required to have performed in order to be nominated. The president, however, may waive those requirements if he "determines such action is necessary in the national interest."
Who is Trump's pick for chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine?
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
LeadershipCJCS
LeadershipCJCS
Posted 10 mo ago
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Dan Caine was chosen by President Donald Trump as the nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for several key reasons, based on Trump’s statements and Caine’s background. Trump has emphasized Caine’s role during his first term, particularly highlighting his contribution to the rapid defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS) caliphate. Trump has repeatedly noted that Caine, as deputy commander of the Special Operations Joint Task Force in Iraq from 2018 to 2019, was “instrumental” in achieving this victory in weeks, contrasting this with predictions from other military leaders who estimated it would take years. This efficiency and decisiveness in combat appear to be central to Trump’s admiration for Caine, as he has retold their first meeting in Iraq in 2018—where Caine reportedly suggested ISIS could be defeated in a week with the right strategy—multiple times, including at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference.
Trump has also praised Caine’s personal qualities and experience, describing him as an “accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with significant interagency and special operations experience.” Caine’s career as an F-16 pilot, with over 150 combat hours and notable service protecting Washington, D.C., skies on September 11, 2001, underscores his combat credentials. His roles in special operations, including at the CIA as associate director for military affairs until December 2024, and as director of special-access programs at the Pentagon, further highlight his extensive national security expertise. Trump has framed Caine as a “real general” rather than a “television general,” suggesting a preference for his practical, results-driven approach over perceived media-focused leadership.
Additionally, Trump’s choice reflects a broader narrative of his “America First” agenda. He claimed that Caine was “passed over for promotion” by the Biden administration despite being “highly qualified and respected,” implying that Caine’s selection was a correction of that oversight and a reward for his alignment with Trump’s vision. This aligns with Trump’s stated intent, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, to “restore peace through strength” and rebuild the military, positioning Caine as a leader who embodies the “warfighter ethos” needed for this mission. While Caine lacks the traditional prerequisites for the role—such as prior service as a combatant commander or service chief—Trump’s willingness to seek a waiver underscores his prioritization of Caine’s specific experiences and their rapport over conventional qualifications.
Trump has also praised Caine’s personal qualities and experience, describing him as an “accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with significant interagency and special operations experience.” Caine’s career as an F-16 pilot, with over 150 combat hours and notable service protecting Washington, D.C., skies on September 11, 2001, underscores his combat credentials. His roles in special operations, including at the CIA as associate director for military affairs until December 2024, and as director of special-access programs at the Pentagon, further highlight his extensive national security expertise. Trump has framed Caine as a “real general” rather than a “television general,” suggesting a preference for his practical, results-driven approach over perceived media-focused leadership.
Additionally, Trump’s choice reflects a broader narrative of his “America First” agenda. He claimed that Caine was “passed over for promotion” by the Biden administration despite being “highly qualified and respected,” implying that Caine’s selection was a correction of that oversight and a reward for his alignment with Trump’s vision. This aligns with Trump’s stated intent, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, to “restore peace through strength” and rebuild the military, positioning Caine as a leader who embodies the “warfighter ethos” needed for this mission. While Caine lacks the traditional prerequisites for the role—such as prior service as a combatant commander or service chief—Trump’s willingness to seek a waiver underscores his prioritization of Caine’s specific experiences and their rapport over conventional qualifications.
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SPC Jeff Daley, PhD
SGM Jeff Mccloud - Fair question, however the information needed to research that question was not available.
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SGM Jeff Mccloud
SPC Jeff Daley, PhD - Well, the two most likely possibilities are:
1. all of the press, even right leaning, somehow declined to report it, or
2. all of his associates actually did stop short of describing him as qualified for this job.
1. all of the press, even right leaning, somehow declined to report it, or
2. all of his associates actually did stop short of describing him as qualified for this job.
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SPC Jeff Daley, PhD
SGM Jeff Mccloud - These are conjectures, potentially influenced by subjective viewpoints. Currently, definitive evidence remains unavailable.
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SGM Jeff Mccloud
SPC Jeff Daley, PhD - sure they're both conjecture, but still covers two distinctly different subjective viewpoints: they did or did not say anything about considering him qualified.
I left out the third possibility, that they did say that they did not think he was qualified and no one reported it.
I left out the third possibility, that they did say that they did not think he was qualified and no one reported it.
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Trump has never shown proper respect for our military.
IMO, he is simply building a Palace Guard, loyal only to him.
IMO, he is simply building a Palace Guard, loyal only to him.
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