Maj. Gen. Tom Carden
Major General Thomas M. Carden, Jr. is the 43rd Adjutant General of Georgia commander of the Georgia Army National Guard.
In 1986, Carden enlisted in the Georgia Army National Guard as an infantryman. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in August 1989 after completing officer candidate school through the Georgia Military Institute. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He earned a masters degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.
Carden has held a number of key positions in the Georgia Army National Guard; most recently as the commander of the Georgia Army National Guard. Carden commanded the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and the Georgia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion. He has also served as the Georgia Army National Guard deputy chief of staff for personnel, operations officer for the 122nd Rear Operations Center and as the executive officer for the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment. Additionally, Carden served as the operations officer for the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment. While serving in this capacity, he deployed to Bosnia, Herzegovina as part Operation Joint Forge. In 2005, Carden deployed to Iraq as the effects coordinator for the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Carden’s military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Parachutist Badge and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Carden graduated from Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus with a Bachelor of Science in History. He later earned a master of arts degree in human resource management from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo.
On August 24, 2015, Carden was promoted to brigadier general. He was advanced to major general Jan. 26, 2019.