Tony Tata resigned today as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
The announcement came from the office of Gov. Pat McCrory and said that Tata wanted to focus on personal and family issues and pursue his passion as the writer of fictional military action thrillers.
Tata’s resignation takes effect today. Chief Deputy Secretary Nick Tennyson will serve as Acting Transportation Secretary.
“Tony Tata has been a valuable partner in our efforts to reform and modernize North Carolina’s transportation system,” Governor McCrory said in a statement. “His dedication to the people of North Carolina is in keeping with his long career of service to his community, state and country.”
McCrory appointed Tata as transportation secretary in 2013. Prior to coming to the DOT, Tata served as superintendent of the Wake County Schools and chief operating officer of the Washington, D.C., public schools. He is a retired U.S. Army brigadier general who has appeared from time to time on cable news networks to comment on military policy issues and promote his books.
He has published four military thrillers, including one earlier this year, “Foreign and Domestic,” which is set partially on the Outer Banks.
He is well acquainted with Hatteras Island as an avid surfer who grew up in Virginia Beach and visited here often.
Tata has also visited Dare County often as NCDOT Secretary — most recently on June 15 to announce a settlement to the long legal battle over building a replacement to the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet.
The News & Observer of Raleigh called Tata’s resignation “sudden” in an article today, though he told the newspaper in an interview that he had been considering the move for some time.
