Tony Taguba – 2016 – Eric from WWAAC Alliance Foundation on Vimeo.
Major General Antonio “Tony” Taguba serves as a Community Ambassador for AARP. After his parents became ill, he and his siblings were ill-prepared to care for them. Faced with tough decisions about their health and finances, they managed to care for them the best they could. To help others, General Taguba now advocates for caregivers and their families.
Born in Manila, Philippines in 1950, General Taguba joined the U.S. Army after graduating from Idaho State University in 1972. He served in numerous command and staff position up to General Officer level. His service tours included assignments in the continental United States, South Korea, Germany, and Kuwait.
General Taguba is the second Philippine-born U.S. citizen to be promoted to the officer rank of General in the U.S. Army. He received numerous military awards, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal (2 awards), the Legion of Merit (4 awards), the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (6 awards), the Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. He retired in January 1, 2007 having served 34 years on active duty as a decorated officer with the rank of Major General and an advocate for breaking down racial and ethnic barriers in the military.
After leaving the U.S. Army, General Taguba became the chairman of Pan-Pacific American Leaders and Mentors (PPALM), a national, all-volunteer, non-profit organization committed to mentoring and professional development of military and civilian leaders of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent. He also chairs the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FILVETREP). Its mission is to raise public awareness through academic research and education on the Filipino Veterans of WWII. This resulted in Congress passing the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal on November 30, 2016, and it was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 14, 2016. He is also a Member on the Board of Directors of the Armed Forces Insurance company and former Vice President of SERCO Inc, a multi-billion services company in North America.