Army Lt. Gen. Thomas Carden has made historical past, changing into the primary Nationwide Guard Bureau (NGB) vice chief to put on the four-star rank.
The Georgia Army Nationwide Guard officer was confirmed Tuesday by the U.S. Senate because the Bureau’s twelfth vice chief. His affirmation means he’ll obtain a fourth star as a result of 2024 fiscal 12 months Nationwide Protection Authorization Act elevating the place to 4 stars. He succeeds Air Pressure Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville, who retired in Could 2024.
Carden assumes place underneath and alongside NGB Chief Gen. Steven Nordhaus, additionally a member of the Joint Chiefs of Employees, marking the primary time ever that two four-star generals lead the NGB. Nordhaus assumed the place as chief on Oct. 2, 2024.
“Congratulations to Lt. Gen. Tom Carden on his affirmation because the Vice Chief of the Nationwide Guard Bureau,” Nordhaus wrote Monday on X. “His expertise, regular management & unwavering dedication to our Troopers, Airmen & households will likely be invaluable because the Nationwide Guard continues to fulfill the wants of the nation. We sit up for his impression on this crucial position.”
Who Is Thomas Carden?
Carden most just lately served as deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command, working within the position from Could 2024 to the current month. His job concerned helping the combatant commander in making ready for and responding to threats towards North America and inside Northern Command’s assigned space of duty, together with offering oversight of NORTHCOM’s mission to supply Protection Help of Civil Authorities.
The graduate of Georgia Southwestern State College possesses a Bachelor of Science diploma in historical past. He additionally holds a Grasp of Arts in Human Useful resource Administration from Webster College, and a Grasp of Science in Strategic Research from the U.S. Army Battle School.
Carden has additionally held a mess of different roles, together with as vice commander of U.S. Factor, on the North American Aerospace Protection Command at Peterson Area Pressure Base, Colorado. Different earlier assignments embody adjutant basic of the Georgia Nationwide Guard, deputy commanding basic of the North Atlantic Treaty Group’s Multinational Division Southeast, headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, and assistant adjutant basic of the Georgia Nationwide Guard, headquartered in Marietta.
He additionally commanded the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade of the Georgia Army Nationwide Guard. Carden deployed to Iraq with the forty eighth Infantry Brigade Fight Crew throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Bosnia and Herzegovina throughout Operation Joint Forge. Different state guard duties included quite a few home response operations.
Kudos to Carden
“Congratulations to an incredible Georgian and true American hero, Basic Tom Carden, who was simply confirmed as Vice Chief of the Nationwide Guard Bureau!” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) wrote on Fb. “He has made our state proud by way of an unimaginable profession devoted to maintaining Individuals secure. He’ll accomplish that on this spectacular new management position.”
“Basic Carden is a fellow Georgian and an American hero whose years of navy service will serve him properly on this new management place,” U.S. Rep Rick Allen, who represents Georgia’s twelfth District, wrote on X. “We want him all the very best as he continues his exemplary profession.”
The sentiment was shared by U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, who wrote the next on X: “He has had an exemplary navy profession, and I’m assured he’ll proceed to make our state and nation proud on this new position.”
Carden now takes over a place that originated in 1988, with a number of duties that embody helping Nordhaus as his position entails being a principal advisor to Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees, Army secretary and chief, and Air Pressure secretary on Nationwide Guard-related issues.
The brand new vice chief will even help Nordhaus in manning, coaching and equipping the 435,000-plus Nationwide Guard troopers and airmen from 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia.
