In a significant shake-up of U.S. military leadership, President Donald Trump has dismissed Air Force General Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. from his position as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Brown, who served in the role for 16 months after being appointed by former President Joe Biden, was the second African American to hold this prestigious position. In his announcement, President Trump expressed gratitude for General Brown’s four decades of service, stating, “He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family.”
To fill the vacancy, President Trump has nominated retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine. Lt. Gen. Caine previously served as the associate director of military affairs at the CIA from 2021 to 2024 and was instrumental in the defeat of the ISIS caliphate. President Trump highlighted that Lt. Gen. Caine had been overlooked for the chairman position during the previous administration, stating, “Biden passed over the highly qualified and respected Caine for chairman of the Joint Chiefs. But not anymore!” He further emphasized that, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Caine will work to “restore peace through strength, put America First, and rebuild our military.”
This leadership change is part of a broader restructuring within the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Hegseth has announced intentions to replace additional senior military officials, including Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief General James Slife. Both have had distinguished careers, with Admiral Franchetti notably being the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs. However, Secretary Hegseth has previously criticized their focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, suggesting that such priorities detract from the military’s core mission of warfighting.
These moves underscore the administration’s commitment to reshaping military leadership in line with its strategic objectives, emphasizing operational effectiveness and a focus on traditional military priorities.