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President Donald Trump has nominated the deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command for the No. 2 position at the National Guard Bureau, according to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
If confirmed by the Senate, Lt. Gen. Thomas Carden, a Georgia Army Guard officer, would receive a fourth star and become the NGB vice chief.
The position has been three stars until the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act elevated it to four stars.
Carden’s confirmation would mark the first time the Guard has had two four-star generals.
The vice chief assists the NGB chief in performing duties as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and principal advisor to the defense secretary, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army secretary and chief, and Air Force secretary and chief on matters relating to the Guard.
The position has been filled by a series of officers serving in a temporary or "acting" capacity since Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc H. Sasseville retired more than a year ago.
Maj. Gen. Timothy L. Rieger, a California Army Guard officer, is currently the acting NGB vice chief.
Carden has been the deputy commander at USNORTHCOM at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, since May 2024.
He is also the vice commander, U.S. Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Prior to his current post, he was the adjutant general of Georgia for five years.
As NORTHCOM deputy commander, Carden assists the commander in anticipating, preparing for and responding to threats against North America and within the command’s assigned area of responsibility.
Additionally, he provides oversight of NORTHCOM’s mission to provide defense support of civil authorities.
—By John Goheen
