Here’s a full summary of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) as of November 2025: who holds it, what the role is legally allowed to do, limits, and why it’s powerful.
Who is the Chairman now
- The current Chairman is Air Force General Dan “Razin” Caine, confirmed on April 11, 2025. (U.S. Department of War)
- He took over after General Charles Q. “CQ” Brown Jr. was removed from the position in February 2025. (Air Force Times)
- Caine’s term is set through September 30, 2027, completing what was originally Brown’s four‑year term. (Army Times)
Main Powers & Responsibilities
Here’s what the CJCS can do — legally and functionally — under U.S. law and tradition:
- Principal Military Adviser
- The CJCS is the top military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. (Wikipedia)
- Provides strategic military advice, joint operational guidance, etc. (Joint Chiefs of Staff)
- Coordination & Planning
- Helps lead and coordinate between the different branches of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, National Guard) via Joint Chiefs and combatant commanders. (Joint Chiefs of Staff)
- Oversees joint strategic planning, such as contingency operations, military readiness, allocation of forces, etc. (Joint Chiefs of Staff)
- Advisory Role & Communication
- The CJCS gives range of opinions from different service chiefs and combatant commanders, not just his own. He collects and then presents them. (Joint Chiefs of Staff)
- Acts as a spokesperson or interface between military leadership and civilian leadership on military issues. (Joint Chiefs of Staff)
Limitations / Things the Chair Can’t Do
It’s equally important to know what the Chairman does not have the power to do:
- No Operational Command
The CJCS does not have command authority over combatant forces. That chain of command (for operations) goes President → Secretary of Defense → Combatant Commanders. The CJCS can transmit orders, convey communications, advise, but not directly command forces in the field. (Joint Chiefs of Staff) - Must Rely on Advice & Consensus
Because the Chair must gather input from service chiefs and combatant commanders, he cannot unilaterally decide on all military policy or strategy. The position involves a lot of negotiation, balancing of interests. (Joint Chiefs of Staff) - Subject to Civilian Oversight
Ultimately responsible to civilian leadership: President and Secretary of Defense. Civilian control of the military is a cornerstone of U.S. governance. (Joint Chiefs of Staff) - Legal Requirements & Waivers
Normally, there are statutory prerequisites (e.g. having served as a service chief or combatant commander) to become CJCS. But in Caine’s case a waiver was required because he did not meet some of those prerequisites. (Military.com)
Why the Role is Very Powerful
Putting together what the Chairman can do, here are reasons this is one of the top posts:
- The CJCS shapes how the U.S. military thinks about threats, readiness, war planning, modernization, etc. Even if he doesn’t command forces directly, his advice influences major decisions.
- Because the position spans all branches of the military, it has influence over coordination, budget priorities (in discussions with DoD / Congress), joint operations, etc.
- The person in this role often has a high public and political profile in times of war or crisis, even though officially apolitical.