Joint Staff Director Fred Kacher Removed After Three Months, Returns to Navy

Overview

• JoInt Staff spokesperson Joseph Holstead confirmed that Vice Adm. Fred Kacher will return to service with the U.S. Navy after roughly 90 days in the director role.
• Officials did not provide a reason for the move, though anonymous sources told Reuters he was not the right fit for the position.
• Gen. Dan Caine issued a public statement thanking Kacher for his service, and a source told Breaking Defense the decision was Caine’s.
• No successor was named for the influential three-star post, which manages day-to-day Joint Staff operations and is typically a stepping stone to higher command.
• The change follows broader leadership churn at the Pentagon and comes as the U.S. prepares a possible Middle East buildup and plans nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva.