Anthony J. Tata, known as Tony Tata, has served as Secretary of Transportation of the U.S. State of North Carolina since January, 2013. As Secretary of Transportation, he is the head of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and also a member of the North Carolina Cabinet. Previously, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the District of Columbia Public Schools and Superintendent of the Wake County Public School System. He is a former brigadier general in the United States Army, having served for 28 years in the military before retiring in 2009. From 2006-2007 he was Deputy Commanding General of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.