Major-General Carignan's career in the Canadian Armed Forces has shown excellence in appointments ranging from commander of a combat engineer regiment in Afghanistan to Commandant of the College Militiare Royal, St Jean. Presently, she is the Commander of the 2nd Canadian Division and Joint Task Force (East), her being the first woman to hold this position and the first to be promoted to the rank of general officer in the combat arms. Known for her decisiveness and military and engineering skills, she received the Meritorious Service Cross for her outstanding leadership in Afghanistan. In 2016, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Military Merit.