Kristian Joaquin "Tanto" Paronto (born 2 March 1971) is an American author, businessman, and former Army Ranger and CIA security contractor.

Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Specialist Sean Smith.

After the U.S. captured Ahmed Abu Khatallah for his role in the Benghazi attack and brought him to the U.S., Paronto was critical of the decision made by the Obama administration to have him tried before a jury in Federal court.

Paronto hosted the pilot episode of War Heroes, a documentary series about American military personnel, produced by Fox Trail Productions.

Paronto is co-founder of the 14th Hour Foundation,[13] a non-profit organization "committed to raising and dispersing funds to help the lives and futures of Veterans, Military Contractor Personnel, and First Responders who have served and sacrificed to protect the American Homeland."