Former Ranger, 2nd Battalion, 75th Regiment
Responded to the Benghazi 2012 Attack
Author of The Ranger Way and The Patriot's Creed
Co-Author of 13 Hours The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi
Motivational & Public Speaker
Co-Host on Battleline Podcast
Founder of the 14th Hour Foundation
Owner of Battleline Tactical
Co-owner of Tanto Vodka
Host of Pro-Military Documentary TV series War Heroes
Co-Founder of E3 Firearms Association




Kris Paronto - “Tanto” as he is affectionately known in security contracting circles - is a former Army Ranger from 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment and a private security contractor who has deployed throughout South America, Central America, the Middle East and North Africa. He also worked with the US Government’s Global Response Staff conducting low profile security in high threat environments throughout the world..



Kris was part of the CIA annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the US Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya on September 11th, 2012, helping to save over 20 lives while fighting off terrorists from the CIA Annex for over 13 hours. Kris and his fellow brothers-in-arms story is told in the book 13 Hours written by Mitchell Zuckoff.



Kris was born in Alamosa, Colorado, and obtained his Associate Degree from Dixie College (now Dixie State University) in St. George, Utah, Bachelor’s Degree from Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado, and Master's Degree from The University of Nebraska at Omaha. He served 4 years in the US Army and an additional 4 years in the US Army National Guard; reaching the rank of Sergeant, then becoming a commissioned officer in 2003. He started contracting for Blackwater Security Consulting in 2003, and continued to deploy on various security contracts, including the Global Response Staff, until 2013.