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Army Lt. Gen. Thomas Carden has made history, becoming the first National Guard Bureau (NGB) vice chief to wear the four-star rank.
The Georgia Army National Guard officer was confirmed Tuesday by the U.S. Senate as the Bureauâs 12th vice chief. His confirmation means he will receive a fourth star due to the 2024 fiscal year National Defense Authorization Act elevating the position to four stars. He succeeds Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville, who retired in May 2024.
Carden assumes position under and alongside NGB Chief Gen. Steven Nordhaus, also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, marking the first time ever that two four-star generals lead the NGB. Nordhaus assumed the position as chief on Oct. 2, 2024.
âCongratulations to Lt. Gen. Tom Carden on his confirmation as the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau,â Nordhaus wrote Monday on X. âHis experience, steady leadership & unwavering commitment to our Soldiers, Airmen & families will be invaluable as the National Guard continues to meet the needs of the nation. We look forward to his impact in this critical role.â
Who Is Thomas Carden?
Carden most recently served as deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command, working in the role from May 2024 to the present month. His job involved assisting the combatant commander in preparing for and responding to threats against North America and within Northern Commandâs assigned area of responsibility, including providing oversight of NORTHCOMâs mission to provide Defense Support of Civil Authorities.
The graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University possesses a Bachelor of Science degree in history. He also holds a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management from Webster University, and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Carden has also held a multitude of other roles, including as vice commander of U.S. Element, at the North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. Other previous assignments include adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard, deputy commanding general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organizationâs Multinational Division Southeast, headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, and assistant adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard, headquartered in Marietta.
He also commanded the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade of the Georgia Army National Guard. Carden deployed to Iraq with the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Bosnia and Herzegovina during Operation Joint Forge. Other state guard duties included numerous domestic response operations.
Kudos to Carden
âCongratulations to a great Georgian and true American hero, General Tom Carden, who was just confirmed as Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau!â Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) wrote on Facebook. âHe has made our state proud through an incredible career dedicated to keeping Americans safe. Heâll do so in this impressive new leadership role.â
âGeneral Carden is a fellow Georgian and an American hero whose years of military service will serve him well in this new leadership position,â U.S. Rep Rick Allen, who represents Georgiaâs 12th District, wrote on X. âWe wish him all the best as he continues his exemplary career.â
The sentiment was shared by U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, who wrote the following on X: âHe has had an exemplary military career, and I am confident he will continue to make our state and country proud in this new role.â
Carden now takes over a position that originated in 1988, with multiple duties that include assisting Nordhaus as his role entails being a principal advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army secretary and chief, and Air Force secretary on National Guard-related matters.
The new vice chief will also assist Nordhaus in manning, training and equipping the 435,000-plus National Guard soldiers and airmen from 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia.
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22 Comments
The confirmation of Lt. Gen. Thomas Carden as the 12th vice chief of the National Guard Bureau is a significant milestone, marking the first time a four-star general will hold the position.
Carden’s deployment to Iraq with the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during Operation Iraqi Freedom demonstrates his dedication to serving the nation.
As a graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University, Carden’s educational background in history and human resource management will likely serve him well in his new role.
The fact that Carden will be serving alongside NGB Chief Gen. Steven Nordhaus, also a four-star general, marks a new era in leadership for the National Guard Bureau.
I’m skeptical about how Carden’s background in history will influence his decision-making as a four-star general, and I’d like to see more information on his strategic approach.
I’m concerned about how Carden’s new role will impact the National Guard’s relationships with other branches of the military, and I’d like to see more information on his approach to interagency cooperation.
I’m skeptical about how Carden’s lack of experience in certain areas will impact his ability to lead the National Guard Bureau, and I’d like to see more information on his plans for addressing these gaps.
I’m excited to see how Carden will work with Gen. Nordhaus to address the nation’s defense needs and support the Soldiers, Airmen, and families under their command.
I’m curious to know more about how Carden’s experience as assistant adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard will influence his approach to supporting the Soldiers, Airmen, and families under his command.
The fact that Carden has worked in various roles, including as adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard and deputy commanding general of NATO’s Multinational Division Southeast, speaks to his versatility and adaptability.
It’s worth noting that Carden’s new role will require him to balance the needs of the National Guard with the broader strategic goals of the nation’s defense, and I’m interested to see how he will approach this challenge.
The fact that Carden has spoken at the Joint and Combined Warfighting School graduation ceremony demonstrates his commitment to developing the next generation of military leaders.
I’m curious to know more about how Carden’s experience as vice commander of U.S. Element at the North American Aerospace Defense Command will impact his decisions as vice chief.
Carden’s confirmation is a testament to his steady leadership and commitment to the Soldiers, Airmen, and families he will be serving.
It’s interesting to note that Carden’s confirmation comes after the retirement of Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville, who previously held the position of vice chief.
Carden’s command of the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade of the Georgia Army National Guard demonstrates his ability to lead complex operations.
It’s worth noting that Carden’s experience in domestic response operations will be valuable in his new role, given the National Guard’s frequent involvement in such operations.
Carden’s educational background, including his Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, will likely serve him well in his new role as vice chief.
As the first four-star vice chief, Carden will have a unique opportunity to shape the future of the National Guard Bureau and make a lasting impact on the nation’s defense.
It’s interesting to note that Carden’s experience as deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command will likely influence his approach to leading the National Guard Bureau.
The 2024 fiscal year National Defense Authorization Act’s elevation of the vice chief position to four stars is a significant development, and Carden’s confirmation is a direct result of this change.
Carden’s confirmation is a significant development for the National Guard Bureau, and I’m excited to see how he will work to support the nation’s defense needs.