Peace Garden News

Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) have convened to consider the nomination of Lieutenant General Dan "Razin" Caine for the role of the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Lt. Gen. Caine has been pivotal in guiding classified military programs and has held significant positions, including Director of Special Programs at the U.S. Department of Defense and Associate Director for Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency.

The hearing highlighted Lt. Gen. Caine's potential rise to the highest-ranking military officer should he be confirmed. One senator expressed support for his nomination, stating, "Thank you, Lieutenant General, for your service and your willingness to step back into the gap,” and praised him as a fitting replacement for General Brown.

During the session, Cramer noted Lt. Gen. Caine's endorsement of SASC Chairman Roger Wicker's defense acquisition reform legislation. Cramer recognized the nominee's unconventional background, which presents an opportunity for innovation. Expressing concerns about a cultural challenge within the Pentagon, Cramer asked for insights on fostering a culture that supports innovators and disruptors.

Lt. Gen. Caine responded with commitment to cultural reform, emphasizing the need for execution over problem admiration. He stated, “We have to stop admiring the problem, and we have to start executing... and we can't do this alone.”

The hearing also touched on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Cramer relayed that combat commanders lack adequate ISR resources, especially as the Air Force seems to deprioritize this mission. Lt. Gen. Caine stressed the importance of ISR for mission execution, advocating for its retention as an Air Force mission.