Anthony J. Tata

Brigadier General Anthony J. Tata, also known as Tony Tata and A.J. Tata (/teɪˈtə/), served as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation from 2013 to 2015 under Governor Pat McCrory. General Tata served in the United States Army for twenty-eight years before retiring in 2009. He is also an American novelist whose subject matter focuses on military life. Tata is most known for the fictional Threat Series.

In 1981, Tata received a Bachelor of Science at the United States Military Academy. He earned a Master of Arts in International Relations at the Catholic University of America, and a Master of Military Art and Science in Strategic Planning at the U.S. Army's School of Advanced Military Studies. General Tata served as a National Security Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Military

He is a former brigadier general in the United States Army, having served for 28 years in the military before retiring in 2009. From 2006 to 2007, he was Deputy Commanding General of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. General Tata served two tours of duty at Fort Bragg in the 82nd Airborne Division. He also was brigade commander in the 101st Airborne Division and Deputy Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division.

Among his many accomplishments, Tata was awarded the Combat Action Badge and Bronze Star. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army's Ranger School.

Politics

In January 2013, North Carolina governor Pat McCrory appointed Tata as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation. He resigned on July 28, 2015. As Secretary of Transportation, he was also a member of the North Carolina Cabinet.

Previously, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the District of Columbia Public Schools (2009–2010) and Superintendent of the Wake County Public School System (2010–2012).

Novelist

100 percent of the proceeds from Tata's Threat series books have been donated to the USO Metro DC Hospital Services fund for Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. As of 2010, $30,000 had been donated.

His novel Foreign and Domestic was named as a finalist for the Barry Award in the Thriller category. Winners will be announced at Bouchercon in New Orleans on September 15, 2016.

Publications

• Threat Series
  • Book I, Sudden Threat (2009), ISBN 978-1935142089
  • Book II, Rogue Threat (2009), ISBN 978-1935142096
  • Book III, Hidden Threat (2011), ISBN 978-1935142171
  • Book IV, Mortal Threat (2015)
• Foreign and Domestic (2015), ISBN 0786035404
• Three Minutes to Midnight (2016), ISBN 1496706250

Reviews

Tata's work has been compared to Tom Clancy. Often his novels have been described as "fast-paced" and a "page-turner." It has been noted that General Tata's knowledge of the military adds to the credibility of his writing.

Tata has two children.