SAN ANGELO, TX – In conversation that blended personal anecdotes with stark warnings about global security, General Dan "Razin" Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sat down with Congressman August Pfluger to discuss his storied career, the evolving threat landscape, and the urgent need for innovation in America's military.
The interview, held amid the backdrop of the 2025 West Texas Legislative Summit in San Angelo, highlighted Caine's deep ties to the region and his unyielding commitment to national defense.
Caine, whose fighter pilot nickname is "Razin" (short for 'raising'), expressed profound gratitude for a career marked by "wonderful chapters." Drawing from his military days interspersed with a career in the business world, including time running a Denton aerospace machine shop, he emphasized how entrepreneurial experience has shaped his approach to leadership.
"We have to change the culture in the military and Washington, D.C., to be more entrepreneurial," Caine said. "That spirit of attack, that tenacity—that's the culture we need to foster to come up with winning logistics in war."
A recurring theme was the pivotal role of Goodfellow Air Force Base, a hub for intelligence training for all military forces, that Caine credits with directly impacting his daily work.
"Every morning, I read intel briefings prepared by a Goodfellow AFB intel school graduate," he revealed, adding that he feels the base's influence "every day—7 days a week." He praised the San Angelo community for winning the Altus Trophy three times, recognizing their support for military families, and quoted a text he received on his phone from former 17 TRW at Goodfellow AFB commander General Michael Downs underscoring the sacrifices of troops there who provide life-saving intelligence.
The discussion turned introspective when Pfluger asked about Caine's role advising President Donald Trump.
"It's humbling to serve in this role—not something I expected, but deeply honored to be trusted," Caine replied.
He described waking up each day focused on honoring service members by providing the president with comprehensive options amid a "dangerous world" fraught with conflicts in Ukraine versus Russia, Iran, and China.
Pfluger recounted Trump's own story of the president's first meeting with Caine during the fight against ISIS, where Caine's strategic insights left a lasting impression on Trump. Trump said Caine's strategic insights won a war in weeks that experts had told the president would take years.
Caine painted a vivid picture of the current global threats, calling these "historic and complicated times" that outpace even Tom Clancy novels.
"We need to deliver peace through overwhelming strength—make other people stay awake wondering what we're doing," he asserted, echoing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's three pillars: rebuilding the force, acquisition reform, and adaptive capabilities. He highlighted rapid technological shifts, from small drones and autonomy to AI and new munitions, urging Congress to fund efforts to stay ahead in cybersecurity, space, and multi-domain operations. "It's a foot race," Caine warned. "We will build the force of the future."
Personal stories added emotional depth. Caine traced his military roots to his father, an F-4 Phantom II and F-16 Falcon fighter pilot, inspiring his own dream to "fly jets." But it was September 11, 2001, that forged his resolve. Stationed as an F-16 pilot at Andrews AFB near Washington, D.C., he recalled the "blue skies" turning chaotic as news broke of planes hitting the World Trade Center.
"We realized we were at war," he said, arming jets with missiles under White House orders. He hailed the heroism of first responders, weapons loaders, and especially the passengers of Flight 93, who prevented a potential tragedy.
"They just got on an airplane, preventing me from having to shoot down or ram that airliner," Caine reflected. "We fought back immediately, showing the world what we were really about as a people, as a country."
Pfluger pressed on Operation Midnight Hammer, a precision strike against deep-buried nuclear weapons facilities as targets in Iran that showcased U.S. military prowess. Caine, who was in the Situation Room, called it "a long time coming," with planning dating back to 2009.
"There is no other military in the world who can do this," he boasted, crediting the joint force's orchestration. His prior experience as a White House Fellow under President George W. Bush and briefing multiple commanders-in-chief prepared him for such high-stakes moments.
On China, Caine dismissed undue worry but urged vigilance.
"I don't spend too much time staying awake at night thinking about the Chinese military, but they should stay up thinking about ours," he quipped, pointing to their aggressive weapons development and land acquisitions in the U.S., including Texas ranches and farmland. He stressed bolstering the defense industrial base to "make great weapons that help secure your kids on the battlefield."
Funding emerged as a critical plea, with Pfluger noting a $150 billion supplemental to the Department of Defense budget in The One Big Beautiful Bill and efforts to raise enlisted pay amid inflation. Caine expressed gratitude but called for more integration across domains "from the seabed to lunar orbit."
His message to military families was heartfelt: "An incredible, humble thank you. When your loved one decides to take that road less traveled, and you go on that journey with them, that is deserving of the thanks of this country. When you mobilize the military, you mobilize the families."
Caine wrapped up by thanking Texas' engaged citizens and business leaders, abundant in the state.
As Pfluger noted, "Leaders are found at the right time when needed." The undertones of his remarks were that General Caine's unlikely ascent to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was necessary and beneficial to America's defense.
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