[5] He became the Air Force Deputy General Counsel (Environment and Installations) in Washington, DC in 2008.

[7] He continued in that position until he was selected as the Air Force Deputy Assistant Secretary (Reserve Affairs) in 2011.

[9] President Barack Obama nominated Tanner as the Air Force General Counsel on April 7, 2014, and he was confirmed to that position by the United States Senate on September 16, 2014.

[6] He served as the Air Force General Counsel until January 21, 2017, where he provided oversight, guidance and direction for legal advice provided by more than 2,600 Department of the Air Force military and civilian lawyers worldwide.

[10] Tanner was the first-ever presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate who was not only openly gay and married to a same-sex spouse, but also a military veteran.