Join us at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary for our annual Patriotic Sunday service featuring guest speakers Major General Thomas Carden, Adjutant General of the Georgia DOD and Director of Military and Veteran Services at KSU, Dr. Stacey Dixon.
We invite our veterans and active-duty military to be a part of our Patriotic Service on Sunday, July 2 to express our gratitude for their service to our country. Our military members are asked to gather in the Narthex at 10:15 a.m. prior to the service to join in the procession to the front of the Sanctuary and then be recognized during the "Armed Forces Recognition" song. Thank you for your service!
SPEAKER BIOS
Dr. Stacey Dixon
CWO3, USMC Ret | Director, Military and Veteran Services at Kennesaw State University
Dr. Stacey Dixon has served as the Director of Military and Veteran Services at Kennesaw State University since October 2022. She works to assist military members, veterans, and their families’ integration back into the civilian communities. In part she works with community partners to ensure 1,800+ military affiliated students are connected to the resources and services they need to be successful in their education and into a sustainable career.
In 1984, Dr. Dixon enlisted in the Marine Corps as a Service Record Book Clerk but soon transferred into the Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) field where she became the first female METOC Officer. Her military education includes, Administration, Weather Observer, Weather Forecaster, Staff Non Commission Officer Courses, Drill Instructor School, The Basic (Officer) School, War College, Amphibious Warfare, and Weapons and Tactics Instruction.
She also served in collateral positions to include, Executive Officer for the Marine Wing Support Squadron-374 at Marine Air Ground Task Force in California; Team lead for METOC during West Pacific Operations; Senior Drill Instructor, Weapons and Tactics Instructor for Combined Armed Exercises, Casualty Assistance Officer and was the Command lead for remote METOC operations in Afghanistan. Upon retirement, she became a Financial Advisor/Stock broker in California, before returning to her home town of Chicago to teach JROTC and serve as Director at National Louis University and now Kennesaw State University.
Dr. Dixon’s military decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Accommodation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Special Duty Ribbon (Drill Instructor), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. Dr. Dixon was also nominated for the unit’s Spiritual Leadership Award and received numerous Certificates of Appreciation for volunteering.
Dr. Dixon earned a Bachelor of Arts in Natural Science and Mathematics from Thomas Edison College, an MBA from National University in San Diego, and her Doctorate from Argosy University in Chicago. She also holds Professional and Life Coach certificates from the World Coaching Institute. She has been published in several anthologies and is the founder of Ten20Artworks, a small art forum of her original works.
Major General Thomas M. Carden, Jr.
Adjutant General of Georgia Department of Defense
Major General Carden was appointed by Governor Kemp in January of 2019 as the 43rd Adjutant General of the Georgia Department of Defense. He is responsible for directing, coordinating, organizing and stationing the Army and Air National Guards of the State of Georgia, the Georgia State Defense Force, and federal and state civilians, ensuring their readiness to perform state and national missions.
In 1986, Major General 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. 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, and the Army War College.
Major General Carden has held a number of key positions in the Army and Georgia Army National Guard. Most recently, he served as Deputy Commanding General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Multi-National Division Southeast (Romania). Major General Carden previously served Georgia Army National Guard Commanding General, chief of staff, and deputy chief of staff for operations, and deputy chief for personnel.
Major General Carden commanded the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and the Georgia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion. He also 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, he deployed to Iraq with the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Major General Carden’s military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, 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 Combat Infantry Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.
Major General Carden earned a Bachelor of Science in History from Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Ga. He later earned a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the Army War College.