Senate Resolution 654
By: Senators Sims of the 12th, Summers of the 13th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Watson of the
11th and Hufstetler of the 52nd
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and congratulating Lieutenant General Thomas M. Carden; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, Lieutenant General Thomas M. Carden is a distinguished son of Georgia and
a proud constituent of Senate District 12 whose life of service exemplifies courage,
leadership, and unwavering dedication to the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, commissioned through Officer Candidate School in 1989, he has devoted more
than three decades to the defense of this nation, rising through the ranks by merit, integrity,
and steadfast commitment to the soldiers and citizens he has served; and
WHEREAS, throughout his career in the Georgia Army National Guard and the United
States Army, Lieutenant General Carden has held many leadership positions including
command at the company, battalion, brigade, and state levels; key operational and staff roles
both domestically and abroad; deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in
Baghdad, Iraq, and Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia; and service as Deputy Commander of
the NATO Multinational Division Southeast in Bucharest, Romania; and
WHEREAS, from 2019 to 2024, Lieutenant General Carden served as The Adjutant General
of Georgia, where he oversaw the Georgia National Guard's response to domestic
emergencies, natural disasters, and global missions, while ensuring the readiness and welfare
of Georgia's citizen soldiers and airmen; and
WHEREAS, in May 2024, he was selected to serve as Deputy Commander of United States
Northern Command at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, where he played a vital role in
anticipating and responding to threats to North America and overseeing defense support to
civil authorities; and
WHEREAS, in January 2026, the United States Senate confirmed Lieutenant General Carden
as the 12th Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, a historic appointment that elevated
him to the rank of four-star general, the first officer ever to hold that rank in the position and
marking the first time the National Guard has had two four-star generals simultaneously; and
WHEREAS, only those with great strength, discipline, and a firm resolve achieve positions
of such status, and Lieutenant General Carden has brought great credit to himself, his family,
this state, and this nation through his outstanding performance and dedication; and
WHEREAS, his selfless and heroic actions stand as a shining tribute to the strength of human
spirit and willpower, and it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding
accomplishments of this remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize Lieutenant General Thomas M. Carden, congratulate him upon his promotion, and
extend sincere best wishes for continued health, happiness, and success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Lieutenant
General Thomas M. Carden.