General Dan Caine: “Understand How He Moved, Where He Lived: General Dan Caine reveals months of planning behind Maduro capture
The recent arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has attracted global attention, shining a light on the US military’s careful planning and execution. Speaking at a press conference at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Saturday, General Caine explained that the mission was a joint effort involving all branches of the US military as well as intelligence agencies, resulting in the success of the mission.
Caine emphasized that the planning process required meticulous preparation, which included close supervision of Maduro’s movements and routines. General Caine stated that this mission involved following him to “understand how he moves, where he lives, where he travels, what he eats, what he wears.” This intelligence gathering was important in ensuring the success of the mission.
Who is General Dan Caine?
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine is a career fighter jet pilot. He observed the skies over Washington DC in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, served in the Middle East during the fight against the Islamic State, and then served in the CIA. Despite his 34 years of military experience, Caine had not held any of the positions legally required to become Chief of Staff.
Caine was little known before his nomination in February. He said he hoped to gain the trust of senators and the American people at his confirmation hearing. He most recently served as deputy director for military affairs at the CIA from November 2021 until his retirement in December 2024. According to the Washington Post, in order to assume the post of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Caine had to be reinstated to active duty and promoted to four-star general.
Military Career Highlights
In 1990, Caine was commissioned through an ROTC program at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. While on active duty, he initially served as an F-16 fighter pilot and flew over 150 combat hours, according to his military biography. He was one of the pilots who defended the skies of Washington after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This marked the first time warplanes were deployed over the nation’s capital. From 2009 to 2016, Caine also served in the National Guard. According to his military biography, he served as deputy commander of the US operation against ISIS in Iraq and Syria from May 2018 to September 2019.
The bio also states that he is a “serial entrepreneur and investor.” According to his LinkedIn profile, Caine serves on the advisory board of defense and space exploration company Voyager, as well as several venture capital firms.
Broader Military Leadership Changes
Gen. Timothy Haugh, head of the National Security Agency, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee in 2024. Haugh is the latest in a series of senior military officials fired by the Trump administration, highlighting ongoing changes in US military leadership.
FAQ:
Q1. Who is General Dan Caine?
General Dan Caine is the current chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a retired Air Force lieutenant general, fighter pilot and former deputy director of the CIA.
Q2. What was the operation to arrest Nicolas Maduro?
This was a joint US military and intelligence operation aimed at capturing Maduro. The mission required months of planning and careful oversight.
