The United States Senate recently confirmed Gordon Tanner, whom President Obama nominated in April, to the position of general counsel of the Air Force. 

The General Counsel is the principal legal officer and chief ethics official of the Department of the Air Force.  As the General Counsel, he provides oversight, guidance and direction for legal advice provided by more than 2,600 Department of the Air Force military and civilian lawyers worldwide. 

Prior to this confirmation, Tanner was principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs, where he served beginning in 2013.  Since 2000, he has served in various capacities in the civilian side of the Air Force, including principal deputy general counsel; deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for reserve affairs; deputy general counsel for environment and installations; and associate general counsel of the Office of the Air Force general counsel.  Additionally, he is a retired colonel in the Air Force judge advocate general corps reserves.

Tanner is a native of Mobile, Ala. and practiced in the Mobile office of a large statewide law firm for many years. Tanner received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and his law degree from Vanderbilt University.  

For more information about the Department of the Air Force General Counsel, please visit http://www.safgc.hq.af.mil/.