Lt. Gen. Dan Caine's Opening Statement: Joint Chiefs Confirmation Hearing

Introduction and Nomination

• 📌 Lt. Gen. Dan Caine expresses his honor and humility in being nominated as the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• 🤝 He thanks President Trump and the Secretary for their trust, and General CQ Brown for his service.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Caine emphasizes the sacrifices of his family and friends, acknowledging their essential role in enabling his service.

Personal Background and Service Ethos

• ✈️ He shares his background as the son of an Air Force fighter pilot and a pediatric critical care nurse, learning the value of service from his parents.
• 💡 Caine states that in his family, service is a core value: "When asked, we always say yes."
• 🇺🇸 He acknowledges being an unconventional nominee during unconventional times, highlighting the global risks and rising threats.

Global Risks and Military Imperatives

• 🌍 Caine outlines the current global landscape, noting the time in key adversary capitals (Beijing, Tehran, Moscow, Pyongyang) to underscore the immediacy of global risks.
• ⚠️ He stresses that global nuclear threats are on the rise and that deterrence is paramount, requiring urgent action and reform.
• ⚔️ The primary mission, he states, is to create peace through overwhelming strength and, if necessary, to fight and win the nation's wars.

Diverse Experience and Leadership Philosophy

• 💼 Caine highlights his 34 years of diverse experience across active duty, National Guard, CIA, interagency, and the business sector.
• 🎖️ He has deployed in combat as a fighter pilot, special operations officer, and CIA officer, and served three presidents from both parties.
• 🧠 His experience as an entrepreneur and investor has taught him about grit and the American entrepreneurial spirit, which he aims to bring to the Joint Force.
• ✅ If confirmed, he pledges to be a nonpartisan leader, always focused on the mission, the people, and upholding his oath of office.

Closing Remarks

• 🙏 Caine reiterates his commitment to earning the trust of the committee and the American people.
• 🎗️ He calls for remembering deployed forces, their families, and especially the fallen and their families.