An exemplary alumnus, holding a degree of a Bachelor of Science in history, Major General Thomas Carden, Jr. was named a recipient of the prestigious Regents’ Hall of Fame Award. He was honored at the 2023 Board of Regents Scholarship and Awards Gala on Friday, September 8, 2023. With this award, Maj. Gen. Carden joined Georgia Southwestern's most notable group of Regents 'Hall of Famers'.

Among his many professional accolades, Maj. Gen. Carden was also the recipient of a 2016 GSW Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Arts and Sciences, and he was recognized as an “Amazing Cane” for his leadership and response during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 including overseeing Georgia's Army and Air National Guards who developed and deployed infection control teams to long-term care facilites and medical support teams to short-staffed hospitals across the state. He has been featured in the University’s alumni magazine, The Aeolian, on two separate occasions.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Lieutenant General Thomas Carden for his exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication to national and international security. His roles as Deputy Commander of U.S. Northern Command and Vice Commander of the U.S. Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command, highlight his commitment to addressing critical threats to North America and providing essential support to civil authorities. As a distinguished alumnus of Georgia Southwestern State University, Lt. Gen. Carden brings immense pride to GSW, embodying the values and excellence that we strive to instill in our graduates. His remarkable service and leadership continue to set a high standard for excellence and integrity.