Mr. Carden came to the VA after a 30 year career in the U.S Army.

Mr. Carden is a native of Phenix City, Alabama, and graduated from the first School of Nursing class at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama in 1981. He retired from the Army with the rank of Colonel in 2012.

During his military career Mr. Carden served overseas for 17 years with assignments in Japan, Korea & Germany. His positions include the Director of Clinical Operations for the Europe Regional Medical Command in Heidelberg, Germany, Chief Nurse of the 30th Medical Command also in Heidelberg, Commander of the U.S. Army Health Clinic in Kitzingen, Germany, & Chief of Preventive Medicine Services at Fort Bragg, NC.

He has a varied background that includes clinical, consultative & administrative, educational & leadership roles. Mr. Carden establishes solid viable partnerships & also builds high performance teams by hiring, developing & motivating skilled professionals who are goal oriented, mission focused, results driven & value based. He has a strong background in health promotion & prevention; he attended the Master Resiliency Program at the University of Pennsylvania in 2011 to become certified to teach self-awareness, self-regulation, mental agility & communication strategies to Soldiers & their families.

Mr. Carden has a Master’s in Public Health from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana & a Master’s degree from U.S. Army - Baylor Program in Healthcare Administration. He is certified by the American Nurses Credential Center in Community Health Nursing & is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College.

Mr. Carden is married with two daughters, one son, and two grandchildren.