In an unforeseen move, President Trump has dismissed Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown from his position as the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This comes as part of a broader effort to remove military leaders who advocate for diversity and inclusion within the ranks.
Brown’s dismissal is a significant event that is expected to reverberate throughout the Pentagon. Brown, who is only the second African American general to hold this position, has spent the past 16 months focusing on the crisis in Ukraine and the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
President Trump expressed his gratitude to General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his dedicated service spanning more than four decades, including his tenure as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He praised Brown as a fine gentleman and exceptional leader in his social media post, wishing him and his family a prosperous future.
President Trump has also announced the nomination of retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine as Brown’s successor.
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, revealed that Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force James Slife have also been dismissed. Franchetti made headlines in 2023 when she became the first woman to lead the Navy.
The Judge advocates general for the Army, Navy, and Air Force are also set to be replaced, according to Hegseth. This comes despite the backing Brown received from key congressional figures and the seemingly cordial meeting he had with President Trump in mid-December, during which they sat next to each other at the Army-Navy football match.
Hegseth praised Caine as embodying the warfighter ethos and being the leader needed in the current climate. He also commended Brown for his distinguished service over the past four decades and his valuable contributions as an advisor.
Caine, a three-star general, previously served as the associate director for Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency and the director of special programs for the Defense Department’s Special Access Program Central Office at the Pentagon. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Virginia Military Institute in 1990. Typically, four-star generals are nominated to chair the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
