GENERAL HUGH B. TANT III

General Tant was born in Charleston and raised in Mount Pleasant, SC. He graduated from The Citadel in 1971 as a Distinguished Military Graduate.

During his 30-plus years Army career, he served in many Infantry, Finance, and Comptroller Command and Staff assignments, to include the 82d Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, 24th Infantry Division, and various units in Europe, the Far East, and the Middle East.

During the Persian Gulf War, he was the base camp commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). His final assignment was at The Pentagon where he was responsible for the management of three-fourths of the Army’s budget, which amounted to $44 Billion dollars.

In 2003 he was selected by Ambassador Bremer to serve as the Director of the Iraqi Currency Exchange. There he was in charge of changing out the entire national currency of Iraq to help jump-start their new economy. It normally takes two to three years to change out a nation’s currency in peace; but he and his 700 men and several thousand Iraqi bankers did it in less than six months while “under fire”.

His highest military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star. The Secretary of the Treasury also presented him the US Treasury’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Award for his leadership of the Iraqi Currency Exchange. He also holds the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Master Parachutist Badge.

Since 1974, General Tant has been married to Christine (Ritland) Tant, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, US Army Nurse Corps. They have twin daughters and four grandchildren.