A. J. Tata

Retired Brigadier General, National Bestselling Author, Distinguished Military Personnel



Brigadier General A. J. Tata (U.S. Army, Retired) is a cross-functional leader. He’s involved in an array of successful business ventures including aviation cargo, cold supply chain, and home medical care.

A. J. Tata has a diverse public speaking career. He delivers keynote addresses for Fortune 500 companies like GlaxoSmithKline. He provides geopolitical updates for major corporations, including Google, Salesforce, and Goldman Sachs, among others. A. J. Tata also discusses the state of the country with grassroots organizations like Lions Clubs and Kiwanis. Additionally, he offers leadership training for both small and large groups, clubs, and companies. He has appeared over 1,000 times on CNN, Fox News, Newsmax, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, and dozens of other television and radio news programs discussing foreign and defense policy, education, and transportation.

Military Career

In 2021, he performed the duties of Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, the #3 position in the United States Department of Defense. His leadership in DoD included implementing the National Defense Strategy. He also worked closely with allies and partners to achieve strategic defense goals globally.

A. J. Tata’s distinguished military career includes commands in the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne Divisions and the 10th Mountain Division as well as operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Panama, and Haiti. His military awards and decorations include the bronze star, combat action badge, ranger tab, master parachutist badge, and department of defense award for distinguished public service.

Civilian Life

In his civilian life, Mr. Tata served as Secretary of Transportation for the state of North Carolina with its 62 airports, 2 seaports, 22 ferries, 88,000 miles of highway, and 3 railroads. He also led Wake County Public School System (Raleigh, NC/Research Triangle) to unprecedented gains. He was superintendent in charge of 18,000 employees, 150,000 students, and 170 schools. Previously, he also served as chief operating officer of Washington, DC Public Schools.

He is the national bestselling author of 15 novels. Importantly, Tony is an ambassador for Homes for Our Troops. This 501c3 focuses on providing ADA-compliant homes to our most severely wounded veterans.

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Hardcover
The Phalanx Code Garrett Sinclair (Volume 3)
St. Martin's Press

Garrett Sinclair escapes from prison to rescue his team from the manipulations of two tech moguls and learns of a devastating family secret in the process.
Mass Market Paperback
Total Empire Garrett Sinclair (Volume 2)
St. Martin's Paperbacks

General Garrett Sinclair undertakes a rogue mission in the Sahara Desert to thwart an international nuclear threat in Total Empire, an explosive thriller from A. J. Tata.
Paperback
St. Martin's Paperbacks

Bronze Star recipient U. S. Army Brigadier General (Ret.) A. J. Tata brings his authentic combat experience to the action-packed military thriller, Chasing the Lion.

Paperback
Reaper: Drone StrikeA Sniper Novel
St. Martin's Paperbacks

Reaper: Drone Strike is the next book in the explosive thriller series by the former special operations sniper and New York Times bestselling author of The Reaper.
Paperback
Reaper: Threat ZeroA Sniper Novel
St. Martin's Paperbacks

The Reaper is back—with a vengeance—in the latest thrill-a-minute read from New York Times bestselling author.
Paperback
Reaper: Ghost TargetA Sniper Novel
St. Martin's Paperbacks

An explosive, no-holds-barred thriller by New York Times bestselling author and star of Fox TV’s American Grit Nicholas Irving.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY LEADERSHIP IN TODAY'S SHIFTING WORKPLACE Tony’s engaging storytelling captures the complexities of his transition between the military, education, transportation, and private business. With service as his operating principle, Tony relays leadership lessons from his transition between leading 25,000 men and women in Afghanistan to 18,000 employees and 150,000 students in Wake County Public School System, North Carolina, to 12,000 employees in one of the nation’s most complex transportation systems, and to leading one of the largest entities within the Department of Defense. The son of two high school guidance counselors, Tony places an emphasis on listening to and understanding the workforce to develop solutions that achieve the organization’s mission. He held senior positions as an army general, superintendent of the 15th largest school system in the country, secretary of transportation for the 2nd largest system in the nation, undersecretary of defense, and president/CEO of small businesses. Many people find these transitions interesting, particularly in today’s shifting workplace.
GEOPOLITICAL UPDATES MADE RELEVANT TO BUSINESS In a dynamic geopolitical environment, Tony maintains an active Top Secret security clearance and remains current on cutting edge national security topics from hypersonic weapons to global conflicts that impact the economy and national security. Tony will provide up to date scene setting of the world stage so that organizations may inform their decision making regarding international portfolios and operations. He was one of the few commentators, for example, at the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict predicting it would be an extended war, not a 72-hour Russian victory. Having led Ukrainian troops in combat, Tony understood the resolve and technical competency of the soldiers, while he was also realistic about the strategic difficulties Ukraine faces. Whatever the current geopolitical situation, Tony will synthesize the information and make it relevant to your organization.
INNOVATION IS ESSENTIAL TO CURRENCY Like in business, the nation’s competition doesn’t rest and Tony’s maxim that “if we aren’t getting ahead, we’re falling behind,” has never been truer in today’s quickly changing, technology-driven world. Tony was the deputy director of the Joint Experimentation Directorate and the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization in the Department of Defense. Both organizations were charged with rapid innovation and prototyping to keep ahead of our adversaries. Tony parlays his practical experience into a systematic approach to cultural and business innovation.
LEADERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE In a hyper partisan domestic environment, leaders today are more transparent than ever. Tony conveys in his humorous and unassuming manner his own leadership lessons from multiple high-profile positions where success often leads to greater scrutiny. His emphasis is on understanding today’s hybrid lifestyle and remaining true to your authentic self.
THE WRITING LIFE Tony conveys in this presentation the art and science of how he approaches writing. He has published 15 novels in the last 14 years, all national bestsellers with one Publishers Weekly Top 10 Mystery/Thrillers of 2017 and a 2016 Barry Award Finalist. He discusses character development, outlining, editing, and marketing, some of which he loves and some of which he doesn’t.

Anthony Tata chats with Brian Kilmeade for his podcast The Brian Kilmeade Show.

Listen to Anthony Tata discuss his book The Phalanx Code on The Wilkow Majority.

Listen to Anthony Tata discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Kusi News.

Follow Anthony Tata on Twitter and like his page on Facebook.

Praise for The Phalanx Code “With Phalanx squads hunting him and those he loves, Sinclair must determine who he can trust while a part of his past comes back to haunt him and threaten everything he holds dear. Nonstop action and authentic detail make this the most compelling, high-stakes entry in the Sinclair series yet.”
— Red Carpet Crash