The Vanderbilt University Institute of National Security announced that General Dan “Raizin” Caine, the 22nd chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will headline the upcoming 2026 Asness Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats.
The event will be held in downtown Nashville on Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24.
As the nation’s highest-ranking military officer and principal advisor to the president and national security leadership, Vanderbilt said Caine’s participation brings “unmatched perspective” to this year’s Summit theme, “The Shadow of War, The Illusion of Peace: National Security in the Age of Asymmetry.”
“General Caine’s participation underscores the Summit’s standing as a premier national forum for examining the evolving landscape of global security,” the university said.
This year’s summit will examine how emerging technologies, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and unconventional threats are reshaping modern conflict. The event will feature keynote conversations and moderated panels designed to encourage candid, cross-sector exchange on the future of global security.
Caine assumed the role of chairman in April 2025, following a distinguished career spanning combat aviation, special operations, and senior interagency leadership. A command pilot with more than 2,800 flight hours in the F-16, including over 150 in combat, he most recently served as Associate Director for Military Affairs at the CIA.
Daniel Diermeier, chancellor of Vanderbilt University, said in a statement, “General Caine brings a rare combination of operational, intelligence, and strategic leadership experience to the Asness Summit. At a moment when we see rapid changes in war fighting and national security, his perspective will be invaluable to the conversations we are convening at Vanderbilt.”
The newly renamed Asness Summit reflects a $10 million investment from the Asness family and anchors Vanderbilt’s broader “National Security Week,” a series of events aimed at fostering dialogue among leaders in government, academia, industry, and the military.
Also headlining the event is retired U.S. Army General and former Commander of U.S. Central Command Michael “Erik” Kurilla, who will deliver a keynote address.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
