George Tanner

Effective July 29, 2013, Dr. George L. Tanner was appointed Dean of VA Learning University (VALU). In this role, he leads VA’s corporate university to help build a talented and diverse VA workforce and enterprise-wide leaders through high-quality, cost-effective continuous learning and development. VALU’s programs and education tools enhance leadership, occupational proficiencies, and personal growth across VA to equip VA employees with the skills they need to better serve Veterans and their families.

Dr. Tanner became a member of the career Senior Executive Service upon his selection in July 2006 as the first Chief Learning Officer for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As the DHS Chief Learning Officer, he was responsible for providing high quality training, education, and professional development programs under the banner of the DHS Homeland Security University System to the DHS workforce.

While at DHS and prior to his selection for the Senior Executive Service, Dr. Tanner served as the Chief Learning Officer for the Directorate for Preparedness, Director of Training and Education for the Directorate of Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection, and Director of Training, Education, and Recruitment Programs in the Office of Information Analysis.

Dr. Tanner retired from the U.S. Army in 2004 with over twenty-one years of service spanning the enlisted, non-commissioned officer and commissioned officer ranks. He spent the majority of his last decade of military service at the Joint Military Intelligence College serving in a variety of positions, including Professor of Strategic Intelligence, Associate Dean for College Programs, Senior Army Advisor, and Academic Department Chairman. He also served as an adjunct professor on the faculty of American Military University from 2000 to 2005.

Dr. Tanner is married to Tanya M. Tanner who works at DARPA as an Assistant Deputy Program Manager. George and Tanya reside in Alexandria, VA, along with their two boys Richard (age 18) and Andrew (age 16).