President Donald Trump abruptly fired Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday, sidelining a history-making fighter pilot and respected officer as part of a campaign led by his defense secretary to rid the military of leaders who support diversity and equity initiatives.
The ouster of Brown, only the second Black general to serve as chairman, is sure to send shockwaves through the Pentagon. His 16 months in the job had been consumed with the war in Ukraine and the expanded conflict in the Middle East. “I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump posted on social media.
Trump announced he is nominating retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine to take over the position. Caine is recognized as a career F-16 fighter pilot who served actively and as part of the National Guard, with notable experience as the associate director for military affairs at the CIA.
Brown had spent the day visiting troops at the U.S.-Mexico border, assessing the military’s increasing deployment to address Trump's executive order on combating illegal immigration. Trump’s abrupt decision came even though Brown enjoyed support from some key members of Congress, alongside what had appeared to be friendly relations with the president, highlighted by their seating arrangement at the Army-Navy football game just weeks prior.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently took over the Pentagon's helm and previously suggested Brown’s future might not be secure during his confirmation hearing, stating, “Every single senior officer will be reviewed based on meritocracy, standards, lethality and commitment to lawful orders they will be required to follow.” Hegseth has openly backed Trump’s initiative to end diversity-focused military programs and suggested targets for purging current leadership. Last November, he remarked, "First of all, you gotta fire the chairman of Joint Chiefs," implying Brown should be among those let go.
Brown's leadership styles and decisions had made him both respected and undermined, particularly following his public stance on issues of race. His support for addressing systemic racism drew ire within conservative circles, including from Hegseth, who once questioned whether Brown’s ascent to the role was due to his race rather than his skills, leading to doubts about his qualifications.
Despite being seen as problematic by some, Hegseth had previously demonstrated his support for Brown during informal moments. Upon entering the Pentagon earlier this year, Hegseth publicly praised Brown, stating, “I’m standing with him right now... I look forward to working with him.”
Since taking office, Trump has exhibited assertive executive power, more so during his second term, dismissing several officials who were connected to President Biden’s administration, actions often justified by the transition norms around retaining key positions. The role of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, established as an adviser to the president and secretary of defense, is intended to filter the views of military service chiefs, without the president needing to interact individually with each branch.
Brown faced challenges on his path to leadership, fighting through political obstacles, including delays imposed by Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville from Alabama, highlighting issues concerning military reproductive health policies. After enduring these delays, Brown was finally confirmed by the Senate with overwhelming support, receiving 89 votes.
During his time as chairman, Brown had primarily focused on military aid to Ukraine and coordinating support for Israel amid escalated hostilities. His tenure represented significant historical milestones, marking the first time both the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs chairman were Black, underscoring efforts toward diversification within the U.S. military.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Brown hails from a family with deep military roots—his grandfather led segregated Army units during World War II, and his father was also involved, serving as both artillery officer and Vietnam War veteran. Despite the representation of Black service members at 17.2% within active-duty forces, only 9% of officer ranks were filled by Black professionals, as reported by the Department of Defense.