Kris Paronto

Last updated

Kristian Joaquin Paronto
Kris Paronto on The MacGuffin cropped and retouched.jpg
Paronto in 2016
Born
Kristian Joaquin Paronto

(1971-03-02) March 2, 1971 (age 52)
Education Dixie College A.S., Mesa State College (B.S.); University of Nebraska at Omaha (graduate)
Occupation(s)Author, businessman
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchFlag of the United States Army.svg  US Army
Flag of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.svg Central Intelligence Agency
Years of service1995–2003 (Army)
2003–2013 (CIA)
Rank sergeant (Army)
Unit 2nd Ranger Battalion
Battles/wars 2012 Benghazi attack
Writing career
Period2012–present
Notable works 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi
The Ranger Way: Living the Code On and Off the Battlefield

Kristian Joaquin "Tanto" Paronto (born 2 March 1971) is an American author, businessman, and former U.S. Army Ranger and CIA security contractor. [1] He is known for his actions while part of the CIA annex security team during the 2012 terrorist attack on the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, J. Chris Stevens and the CIA compound in Benghazi. He is featured in the book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi and is credited as a co-author, and is author of the self-help books The Patriot's Creed: Inspiration and Advice for Living a Heroic Life and The Ranger Way: Living the Code On and Off the Battlefield.

Contents

Paronto was portrayed by actor Pablo Schreiber in the film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.

Early life and education

Paronto was born in Alamosa, Colorado. His parents were educators and his mother taught his first-grade class. His father James Paronto was a football coach and athletic director. [2] Paronto played football, baseball and basketball. A football scholarship helped pay for his college degrees which include an associates, bachelor's and master's degrees. [3]

Military career

Paronto served four years as an Army Ranger [4] followed by four years in the Army National Guard. He reached the enlisted rank of sergeant before receiving a commission in 2003. [3]

Benghazi attack

Paronto was a CIA Global Response Staff (GRS) contractor guarding the Benghazi, Libya CIA annex, during the 2012 Benghazi attack. [5] [6] CIA contractors Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty were killed in the attack along with the U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Specialist Sean Smith. After Benghazi, Paronto served as a security contractor in Yemen before leaving the CIA. [7]

Writing and Speaking career

Following his exit from the CIA, Paronto became an author and public speaker. 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. In protest of that decision, Paronto refused to testify at his trial. [8] Along with Mitchell Zuckoff and other members of the Annex Security Team stationed in Benghazi, Paronto co-wrote the book 13 Hours:The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi. [9] [10] The book was the basis for the Michael Bay-directed film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi . [11]

In 2017, Paronto released his second book, The Ranger Way: Living the Code On and Off the Battlefield , a self-help book and survival guide based on Paronto's military experiences.

Other media

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

In November 2019, Paronto launched Battleline Podcast [12] with Ian Scotto which has continued since.

Charitable work

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."

Paronto is the owner and lead instructor of Battleline Tactical. [14]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Ranger Battalion</span> Military unit

The 2nd Ranger Battalion, currently based at Joint Base Lewis–McChord south of Seattle, Washington, United States, is the second of three ranger battalions belonging to the United States Army's 75th Ranger Regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David L. Grange</span> United States Army general (born 1947)

David L. Grange is a retired United States Army major general. He served with the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. He was later assigned to Delta Force, commanding a squadron during the invasion of Grenada and was deputy commander during the Gulf War. His last command was of 1st Infantry Division before he retired in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pablo Schreiber</span> Canadian-American actor

Pablo Tell Schreiber is a Canadian-American actor. He is best known for his stage work and for portraying Nick Sobotka on The Wire (2003), William Lewis on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2013–2014), Mad Sweeney on the Starz series American Gods (2017–2020), and as George "Pornstache" Mendez on Orange Is the New Black (2013–2017), for which he received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. He stars as Master Chief in the Paramount+ live-action series Halo (2022–present) which is based on the franchise of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libya–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Libya–United States relations are the bilateral relations between the State of Libya and the United States of America. Relations are today cordial and cooperative, with particularly strong security cooperation only after the 2012 attack on the US liaison office or mission in Benghazi. Furthermore, a Gallup poll conducted in March and April 2012 found that Libyans had "among the highest approval" of US leadership in the entire Middle East and North Africa region.

James Paronto is a former baseball and American football player, coach, and official. He served at the head football coach at Adams State College—now known as Adams State University—from 1977 to 1980 and at Mesa State College—now known as Colorado Mesa University—from 1990 to 1993, compiling a career college football coaching record of 41–43. He is the father of Kris Paronto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khalifa Haftar</span> Libyan Field Marshal leader of LNA (born 1943)

Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Omar Haftar is a Libyan politician, military officer, and the commander of the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army (LNA). On 2 March 2015, he was appointed commander of the armed forces loyal to the elected legislative body, the Libyan House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Factional violence in Libya (2011–2014)</span> Period of violence in Libya following the overthrow of Gaddaffi

Following the end of the First Libyan Civil War, which overthrew Muammar Gaddafi, there was violence involving various militias and the new state security forces. This violence has escalated into the Second Libyan Civil War (2014–2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Christopher Stevens</span> American diplomat and lawyer

John Christopher Stevens was an American career diplomat and lawyer who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Libya from May 22, 2012, to September 11, 2012. Stevens was killed when the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked by members of Ansar al-Sharia on September 11–12, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Benghazi attack</span> Attack against two United States government facilities in Benghazi, Libya

The 2012 Benghazi attack was a coordinated attack against two United States government facilities in Benghazi, Libya, by members of the Islamic militant group Ansar al-Sharia.

Following the 2012 diplomatic missions attacks that began on September 11, 2012, many nations and public officials released statements. Widespread early news coverage said that the protests were a spontaneous response to an online preview of Innocence of Muslims, a movie considered offensive to Muslims. Later consideration of the Libya attack's complexity, of statements made by some Libyan officials, and of the potentially symbolic date fueled speculation of preplanned efforts. U.S. missions in Cairo, Egypt, and Benghazi, Libya, were attacked during the first day of the protest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ansar al-Sharia (Libya)</span> Salafist jihadist group in Libya

Ansar al-Sharia in Libya was a Salafist Islamist militia and Al-Qaeda-aligned group that advocated the implementation of Sharia law across Libya. Ansar al-Sharia came into being in 2011, during the Libyan Civil War. Until January 2015, it was led by its "Amir", Muhammad al-Zahawi. As part of its strategy, the organization targeted specific Libyan and American civilians for death and took part in the 2012 Benghazi attack. The group was designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, Iraq, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">February 17th Martyrs Brigade</span> Islamist militia in Libya

The February 17th Martyrs Brigade is an Islamist militia in Libya.

The timeline below details the ongoing investigation into the September 11, 2012 attack upon the American diplomatic mission at Benghazi, in Libya. The attack and the investigation are the subject of much controversy in the American political sphere.

The United States House Select Committee on Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi was created after Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John Boehner, on May 2, 2014, proposed that a House select committee would be formed to further investigate the Benghazi attack on September 11, 2012. During the attack, the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked, resulting in the deaths of the U.S. ambassador to that country, J. Christopher Stevens, and three other Americans.

<i>13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi</i> 2016 film by Michael Bay

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is a 2016 American biographical action-thriller film directed and produced by Michael Bay and written by Chuck Hogan; it is based on Mitchell Zuckoff's 2014 book of the same name. The film follows six members of the Annex Security Team who fought to defend the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya after waves of attacks by militants on September 11, 2012. The film stars James Badge Dale, John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, Max Martini, David Denman and Dominic Fumusa, with supporting roles by Toby Stephens, Alexia Barlier and David Costabile.

<i>13 Hours</i> (book) 2014 historical book by Mitchell Zuckoff

13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi is a 2014 historical book by American author Mitchell Zuckoff that depicts the terrorist attack by Islamist militants at the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012. The book is an account from the point of view of the compound's defenders and does not address any of the political controversy surrounding the attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American fatalities and injuries of the 2012 Benghazi attack</span>

Four Americans died in the 2012 Benghazi attack: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and two CIA operatives, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, both former Navy SEALs. Stevens is the first U.S. ambassador killed in an attack since Adolph Dubs was killed in 1979. Senior intelligence officials later acknowledged that Woods and Doherty were contracted by the Central Intelligence Agency, not the State Department as previously identified, and were part of Global Response Staff (GRS), a team that provides security to CIA case officers and countersurveillance and surveillance protection.

Ten investigations were conducted into the 2012 Benghazi attack, six of these by Republican-controlled House committees. Problems were identified with security measures at the Benghazi facilities, due to poor decisions made by employees of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and specifically its director Eric Boswell, who resigned under pressure in December 2012. Despite numerous allegations against Obama administration officials of scandal, cover-up and lying regarding the Benghazi attack and its aftermath, none of the ten investigations found any evidence to support those allegations. The last of the investigation committees issued its final report and shut down in December 2016, one month after the 2016 presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Thomas Smith</span> American film director

Jack Thomas Smith is an American producer, writer and director of feature films and documentary television series. His feature horror films include Disorder and Infliction. Smith is a member of the Horror Writers Association.

<i>The Ranger Way</i> A book by Kris Paronto

The Ranger Way: Living the Code On and Off the Battlefield is a book by former Army Ranger Kris Paronto that was published in 2017. In the book Paranto explains to the readers how to bring "discipline, motivation, success and peace to life".

References

  1. "Bio" . Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  2. Rohman, Katie (June 5, 2015). "Paronto shares stories of Benghazi, life battles". Washington County Enterprise and Pilot Tribune . Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Notarianni, Alicia (November 5, 2017). "Security contractor Kris Paronto to discuss events of Sept. 11, 2012, at local fundraiser". Herald-Mail Media. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  4. 1 2 Paronto, Kris "Tanto". "Kris "Tanto" Paronto". Kris "Tanto" Paronto. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  5. "Talk by Benghazi veteran stirs social media protest". Victoria Advocate. September 23, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  6. Brown, Ben (April 5, 2017). "Benghazi Hero Kris "Tanto" Paronto: Susan Rice is a Pathological Liar". Fox Business. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  7. Inbody, Kristen (November 6, 2017). "Former Ranger, survivor of Benghazi siege speaking in Great Falls". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  8. Charters, Justen (November 28, 2017). "After Benghazi Terrorist Is Cleared of Murder — Hero Who Was There Gives Explosive Take on Verdict". IJR. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  9. "Omahan in Benghazi in 2012 faults CIA station chief's stand-down order". Omaha.com. September 8, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  10. "Omahan on Benghazi team is happy with '13 Hours' film, which is based on book he co-wrote". Omaha.com. January 11, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  11. Lesnick, Silas (February 3, 2015). "Michael Bay's 13 Hours Adds Pablo Schreiber". ComingSoon.net . Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  12. Paronto, Kris "Tanto". "Kris "Tanto" Paronto". Kris "Tanto" Paronto. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  13. "Home | 14th Hour Foundation". Home | 14th Hour Foundation. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  14. Paronto, Kris "Tanto". "Kris "Tanto" Paronto". Kris "Tanto" Paronto. Retrieved October 25, 2022.