Anthony Tata

Anthony Tata
Senior Official Performing the Duties of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
In office
November 10, 2020 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJames H. Anderson (as Acting Under Secretary)
Succeeded byColin Kahl
Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
In office
July 31, 2020 – November 10, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJames H. Anderson (as Deputy Under Secretary)
Succeeded byThomas M. Williams
Personal details
Born
Anthony Jean Tata[1]

(1959-09-07) September 7, 1959 (age 65)
Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUnited States Military Academy (BS)
Catholic University of America (MA)
United States Army Command and General Staff College (MMAS)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1981–2009
RankBrigadier General
AwardsCombat Action Badge
Bronze Star
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit

Anthony Jean Tata (born September 7, 1959) (/ˈteɪtə/) is an American retired military officer, author and government official.

Tata is a retired brigadier general of the United States Army, serving until 2009, and later served as a school district administrator for two large school districts in the District of Columbia and North Carolina. He served as Secretary of Transportation of North Carolina from 2013 to 2015 under Governor Pat McCrory.[2] He is the author of the Threat series of thriller novels, and became a regular on Fox News after leaving the army,[3] where he offered pro-Donald Trump commentary.[3] He has falsely claimed that Barack Obama is a Muslim and "terrorist leader" and promoted a baseless conspiracy theory asserting that the CIA sought to assassinate Trump.[4]

In 2020, Tata joined the Pentagon in a senior civilian advisory role to Defense Secretary Mark Esper.[5] On April 23, 2020 Trump nominated Tata to the post of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.[6] His nomination was submitted to the Senate on June 11, 2020;[7] a hearing on his confirmation was cancelled on July 30, and the White House planned to withdraw the nomination.[8] Later, Tata was appointed as "the official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy reporting to the acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, James Anderson."[9] Following Anderson's resignation after the November 2020 elections, Tata served as the de facto acting Under Secretary under the official title "Performing the Duties of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy"[10] until his resignation on January 15, 2021.[11]

  1. ^ "Anthony Jean Tata". West Point Association of Graduates. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  2. ^ Siceloff, Bruce (January 8, 2013). "He's not 'The General,' but he's the boss at DOT". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Fox News regular Anthony Tata to be tapped as Pentagon policy chief". POLITICO. April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Gordon Lubold, Generals Pull Support for Pentagon Nominee Tata Over Offensive Tweets, The Wall Street Journal (June 18, 2020).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "One Nomination Sent to the Senate". whitehouse.gov. June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020 – via National Archives.
  8. ^ Em Steck, White House tells Senate Armed Services they plan to withdraw controversial Pentagon nominee, source says, CNN (July 30, 2020).
  9. ^ Ryan Browne (August 2, 2020). "Trump directed controversial Pentagon pick into new role with similar duties after nomination failed". CNN. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  10. ^ "Trump loyalists elevated to powerful roles at the Pentagon after firing of Defense Secretary Esper". CNBC. November 10, 2020.
  11. ^ "Biden taps Trump appointee Norquist to be his temporary Defense secretary". Politico. January 14, 2021.