Anthony J. Tata, Brigadier General, U.S. Army (Retired) AJTata81@gmail.com 814 N 3 rd St. #404 Wilmington, NC 28401 703-297-5998 (c) SUMMARY Author of five novels, including the national bestseller, Foreign and Domestic, with three more in the Jake Mahegan series due for release in April 2016, February 2017 and September 2017. West Point, Catholic University and Harvard JFK School of Government educated. Serves as senior managing partner of multi-million dollar commercial real estate and logistics company focused on maximizing supply chains on the East Coast. Current focus is the Port of Virginia, Port of Wilmington, NC and development along Wilmington, NC riverfront. Former Secretary of Transportation of North Carolina, responsible for $4.5B budget and 12,000 employees as well as highways, rail, ports, ferries, bicycle/pedestrian, airports, transit, Division of Motor Vehicles. Primary mission was to leverage infrastructure to create jobs. Former Superintendent of Wake County Public School System, Raleigh/Cary, NC. During education career, led the 16 th largest school district in the nation with a $1.2B budget to unprecedented gains and served as Chief Operating Officer of Washington DC Public Schools under Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Retired US Army Brigadier General combat veteran with 2006-07 combat tour in Afghanistan. Awarded Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge. During notable 28 year US Army career, had a broad base of assignments ranging from commands of combat airborne units to directing innovation and oversight of a portfolio of 100 programs with a budget of over $4.5B. Experienced at leading large, diverse organizations and building stakeholder support for complex missions. Experienced and frequent foreign policy commentator for CNN, CBS News, Fox News, CBS Radio and multiple other stations. Jane Pauley chronicled career transition on the Today Show in 2010. Serves on six veteran related advisory boards, including as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the North Carolina Heroes Fund and the North Carolina Military Order of the Purple Heart. Generously donates a portion of book royalties to veteran organizations. EDUCATION Fellow, Leadership Triangle, 2010-11 Fellow, Broad Superintendents Academy, 2009 Graduate, Hampton Roads CIVIC Leadership Institute, 2002-03 National Security Fellow, Harvard University, JFK School of Government, 1999-2000 M.S., Military Art and Science of Strategic Planning, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, KS, 1993 M.A., International Relations and Political Economy, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 1991 B.S., United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, 1981 BOARDS North Carolina Military Order of the Purple Heart Advisory Board 2012-Present
North Carolina Heroes Fund Advisory Board US Military Veterans Association Advisory Board TigerSwan Advisory Board Academy Securities Advisory Board X2 Biosystems Military Advisory Board 2013-Present 2013-Present 2015-Present 2015-Present 2010-Present PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Partner, USA Investco Aug 2015-Present Serves as senior managing partner of multi-million dollar commercial real estate and logistics company focused on maximizing supply chains on the East Coast. Focused on Port of Virginia, Port of Wilmington, NC and development in Wilmington, NC riverfront. Secretary of Transportation Jan 2013-July2015 North Carolina Served in Governor s Cabinet as Secretary of Transportation for North Carolina. Led a 12,000- employee organization with an annual budget over $4.5B. Responsible for 88,000 miles of highways (second largest in the nation), 22 ferry boats on seven routes (also second largest in nation), 72 airports, 99 transit systems, statewide railroads, bicycle and pedestrian routes, the Global TransPark in Kinston, two ports at Morehead City and Wilmington (with annual revenue of $45m), the NC Turnpike Authority, and the Division of Motor Vehicles. Superintendent Jan 2011-Sep 2012 Wake County Public School System Raleigh, North Carolina Served as the Chief Executive Officer of the 16 th largest school district in the nation with over 151,000 students and 169 schools. Achieved significant academic results through innovative programming and targeted funding of high needs schools. During leadership of district, all school levels saw significant gains and reached their highest levels under current testing regimes with high school composites at 85.8% proficient and middle and elementary school composites at 82.1%. 93% of the schools met either high growth or expected growth. District economically disadvantaged students (ED) outperformed non-ed students by, on average, a 2:1 margin, depending upon grade level, with both categories experiencing increases in proficiency and growth. For the first time in a decade, district ED children outperformed the state average for the same subgroup. Used predictive modeling and analysis to place an additional 2200 students in Algebra I, with all students showing a 1.1% composite increase. Of four pay for performance pilots, all saw gains and two were over 8% increase in proficiency, with three classified as high growth. Some of the district s largest gains came in some of the schools with the highest concentrations of low-income students. In less than two years, decreased the number of schools under 70% composite proficiency from 26 to 13; and those under 60% from four to one. Implemented common core curriculum with fidelity in all 169 schools.
Chief Operating Officer Jun 2009-Jan 2011 Washington, DC Public Schools Washington, DC Served on the management team of Chancellor Michelle Rhee with principal duties focused on streamlining business operations in order to enhance teaching and learning in all 127 schools for each of the 45,000 students. Managed a budget of $52m and executed functional areas of logistics, procurement, textbooks, facilities master plan, technology, food services, and real estate. Also, participate in decision making on all matters related to teaching, learning, data, accountability, strategic direction, special education, human resources, and finances. Provided leadership and guidance to develop a strategy to increase free and reduced meal participation while simultaneously cutting costs. Increased participation in breakfast and lunch programs by approximately 8% and saved over $3m on food services in the first year of operations. Provided the vision to create a collaborative learning community amongst all schools by establishing a weekly operations synchronization involving all 127 school business managers and/or principals who can call in, join via webinar, or attend in person. These forums have increased communication and customer service. Established a vision to realign DCPS business operations to improve school support such as same day service on all logistical issues and significantly reduced procurement timelines. Deputy Director 2007-2009 Joint Improvised Explosive Device Organization, US Army Crystal City, VA Served as the deputy for operations in the US military organization charged with synchronizing industry, technology, and defense operations and training to counter the existing and future IED threats service members face in combat. Manage/oversee over 100 programs, training and operations projects. Responsible for a $4.5B budget. Provided leadership in development of strategic plan that reduced improvised explosive devices in Iraq by 70% Increased Improvised Explosive Device training in Afghanistan to 20,000 Soldiers per year Developed detailed operations and training strategy that is guiding the investment of nearly 50% of the organization s $4.6B budget, much of it in innovative programs Successfully appeared on television, radio and in print media, and briefed the House Armed Services Committee and individual members of Congress, resulting in continued funding and support. Deputy Commanding General 2005 2007 10 th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY and Combined Joint Task Force-76, Afghanistan
Served as the deputy commander for support of an 18,000 soldier combat division and a 25,000 warfighter joint task force. Responsible for the deployment, training, sustainment, budget oversight and operations of the division while at Fort Drum and in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. Planned and led the deployment of over 15,000 soldiers and gear to Afghanistan and Iraq Led and managed without incident the contentious Bagram Theater Internment Facility as well as the Joint Logistics Command, Combat Aviation Brigade, Military Police Battalion, Engineer Group, and other essential combat support While in combat, developed a contract review board that analyzed over $500M in contracts, reduced contract costs and inefficiency by 20%, and applied the savings to essential projects for the development of Afghanistan Developed the 10-year financial plan for Bagram Air Base, to include over $700M in phased construction of facilities; approved all engineering projects over $1 million and oversaw a $200M operational budget Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff, Army 2004-2005 Office of the Chief of Staff, Army, Washington, DC Served as the primary advisor and assistant to the 4 star general who is the equivalent of the chief operating officer of the Army. Assisted in the execution of a $160B budget Assisted the Vice Chief of Staff, Army, in the planning and management of the largest deployment of forces since World War II Shaped all Vice Chief of Staff congressional, industry, service, and civilian engagements to ensure effective strategic communications Deputy Director, Joint Experimentation 2002 2004 US Army Deputy to the director of an 800 person military and civilian effort charged with studying business transformation and ways to effectively transform all four military services. Directly responsible for a $110M budget. Commander, 2 nd Brigade 2000-2002 101 st Airborne Division Commanded 3,500 soldiers in combat in Kosovo, with duties ranging from conducting counterinsurgency operations to economic development projects.
Senior Fellow 1999-2000 Harvard University National Security Program JFK School of Government Advisor to Supreme Allied Commander, Europe 1999 Selected as a personal advisor to General Wesley Clark during Kosovo invasion, responsible for developing strategy and operational war plans. Prior Leadership Positions, US Army: Battalion Commander, 1 st Battalion, 505 th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82 nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC Executive Officer to the Commander, Implementation Forces, Bosnia and Commander, US Army Europe Executive Officer to the 504 th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, NC Chief of Plans, 82 nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC Lieutenant/Captain, 25 th Infantry Division SELECTED HONORS, AWARDS, AND DECORATIONS Defense Distinguished Service Medal Bronze Star Medal Ranger Tab Air Assault Badge Joint Commendation Medal (2 nd Award) Legion of Merit (4 th Award) NATO Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Combat Action Badge Master Parachutist Badge Meritorious Service Medal (5 th Award) Army Commendation Medal (4 th Award) Afghanistan Campaign Medal MEDIA EXPERIENCE FoxNews: Appearances on the O Reilly Factor, Fox and Friends Weekday and Weekend, America Live with Megyn Kelly (notably during firing of Gen Stanley McChrystal), Megyn Kelly Power Panel, America s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer, Geraldo at Large, Weekend Editions, and KT McFarland s DefCon3. CBS News: CBS Morning Live with Harry Smith (multiple appearances) CBS Radio: Jim Bohannon Show (multiple appearances)
NBC Today Show: Jane Pauley featured segment on career transition from military to education leaderhip WB/CW Cable: Daily Buzz (multiple appearances) WRAL/WTVD/NBC-17: Multiple/constant exposure as Superintendent of Wake County Public Schools Has reliably commented on foreign policy, military action, and domestic politics. Novels Three Minutes to Midnight, Kensington Books/Pinnacle, (set for release April 2016) Foreign and Domestic, Kensington Books/Pinnacle, Mar 2015 (National Bestseller) Mortal Threat, Trident Media, Jan 2015 (#1 Amazon Kindle Download) Hidden Threat, Variance Publishing, 2011 (Amazon Top 100 Thrillers List) Rogue Threat, Variance Publishing, 2009 (Amazon Top 100 Thrillers List) Sudden Threat, Variance Publishing, 2008 (Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestseller List)