President Donald Trump’s nominee to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff acknowledges he's an unconventional nominee. But retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine told his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday that the nation is facing unconventional and unprecedented threats and he's ready to serve in its defense. Caine was nominated by President Donald Trump to be the top U.S. military officer after the president fired Gen. CQ Brown Jr. He said he would be candid in his advice to Trump and vowed to stay apolitical. While Caine stopped short of criticizing leaders for using a Signal chat, he told senators that he always communicates in proper channels.