In a departure from longstanding U.S. tradition of retaining the previous appointee to the nation’s highest military post, President Donald Trump has appointed a new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
On Friday night, Trump thanked incumbent General Charles Q. Brown for his 40 years of service—including his tenure as chairman—and wished him and his family a “great future” in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Trump has nominated former Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine to succeed Brown in the role, which reports directly to the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
Historically, the incumbent chairman has often been retained during changes in administration. According to The New York Times, Brown was only the second African American to serve as the nation’s top military officer.
Trump’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly advocated for Brown’s removal early on, citing his focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the military.
The administration has also dismissed six other top Pentagon officials, including Navy chief Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy.
Trump praised Caine on Truth Social, describing him as an “accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with significant interagency and special operations experience.”
Trump highlighted Caine’s role in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq, crediting him with ensuring the rapid dismantling of the so-called caliphate.
Despite his qualifications, Caine was overlooked for senior roles under the Biden administration, Trump claimed. “But not anymore!” he added.
Since Caine is a retired officer, he would need to be recalled to active duty to assume the position. His appointment is also subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate, according to The New York Times.
