Major General Tatu graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles where she attended on an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and was commissioned in the Signal Corps.
Throughout her more than 30 years active and reserve service, she has commanded at every echelon, from platoon to Division-level with duty in Germany, Iraq and the United States. She began heractive military service as the signal platoon leader, 2/57 Air Defense Artillery Battalion, Ansbach, Germany and became the Executive Officer, Delta Company, 11th Air Defense Signal Battalion, Kaiserslautern, Germany. She later served as the Battalion Motor Officer, 5th Signal Battalion, Ft. Polk, Louisiana, followed by her assignment as the Chief, Testing Management, Military Entrance and Processing Station, Los Angeles, California.
Major General Tatu's principal staff assignments have been as the Detailed Inspector General, 311th Corps Support Command in Los Angeles, California; Division Chief, Reserve Personnel, 63D Regional Support Command, Los Alamitos, California; Chief, Individual Training and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Training, 63D Regional Support Command; and Deputy Chief of Staff, G3, 63D Regional Readiness Command. In June 2006, she mobilized and deployed as the Commander, 164th Corps Support Group in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08. Upon return from theater, she served as the Deputy Commanding General, 311th Signal Command (Theater), Ft. Shafter, Hawaii. She also served as the Commander, Pacific Training Division, 75th Training Command (Mission Command) at Camp Parks, California, responsible for Mission Command Staff Training of military units for deployments and other missions. Prior to her assignment as the US Army Reserve Command Chief of Staff, she served as the Commanding General of the 79th Sustainment Support Command. Major General Tatu served on the Secretary of the Army’s Army Reserve Forces Policy Committee from 2010-2013.
Her military education includes the Signal Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College, the Inspector General Course, the ArmyWar College and CAPSTONE. Major General Tatu’s awards and decorations include an Army Distinguished Service Medal, two Legion of Merit Medals, the Bronze Star Medal, five Meritorious Service Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, among others.
Major General Tatu and her husband of over 30 years, Mike, have three grown sons; Glendon, Colin and Shane. Their middle son, Colin, is a Sergeant in the Army, currently serving with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vincenza, Italy.