In 1970 he married Ada Rose Enjady. They had five children together.[2]
Naiche-Palmer was the chairman of the board of directors for the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino.[2] He also served on the Mescalero tribal council.
At the time of his election, Naiche-Palmer was the owner and main partner in an advocacy firm which represented individuals before the Mescalero Apache Tribal Court.[2]
He was active in the American Indian Business and Technologies, All Indian Pueblo Council, Sandia National Laboratories, and National Indian Council on Aging.[2]
Carleton Naiche-Palmer was elected president of the Mescalero Apache in November 2007,[2] defeating the incumbent Sara Misquez. He took office in early 2008. Naiche-Palmer was sworn in as the president of the Mescalero Apache on January 11, 2008.[3]
Naiche-Palmer was defeated for re-election in the presidential primary held on September 29, 2009, coming in fifth place out of seven candidates.[4] Former president Mark Chino finished in first place with 395 votes; former vice president Frederick Chino came in second with 253 votes; Ben Martinez was third with 247 votes; Naomi Sainz was fourth with 74 votes; Naiche-Palmer was fifth with 43 votes; Harlyn Geronimo was sixth with 40 votes, and A. Paul Ortega finished in seventh place with 26 votes.[4] Mark Chino was elected president in the general election.[2]
Carleton Naiche-Palmer died of natural causes at a hospital in El Paso, Texas, on December 12, 2010, at the age of 63.[2] He was survived by Ada, his wife of 40 years; their five children; 18 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Scott "Scotty" Ryan Palmer, who died on October 15, 2009.[2]