Tanner grew up in Gorham, New Hampshire, and graduated from Gorham High School in 2016.At school, he played on the soccer team and earned a reputation for teamwork and determination. Off the field, he enjoyed snowboarding and took pride in maintaining his Subaru WRX STI.

In July 2017, Tanner enlisted in the U.S. Army as a UH-60 Black Hawk repairer. His strong performance during training earned him a chance to attend Green Platoon—the assessment and selection course for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), known as the Night Stalkers, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He completed the course in 2018 and was assigned to Fox Company, 1st Battalion, as an MH-60M repairer. Six months later, he transferred to Charlie Company, where he became a flight instructor and fully mission-qualified crew chief. He deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan and took part in no-notice, high- risk missions worldwide. Valued for his skill and composure, he was often the first choice for critical assignments. On one mission, he saved his crew from disaster—an act that earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. On November 10, 2023, during a nighttime air-refueling exercise over the Mediterranean Sea, his Black Hawk crashed, killing all five soldiers aboard.

His legacy of courage, professionalism, and selfless service lives on through his family, friends, and fellow soldiers. He is remembered for the integrity, joy, and dedication he brought to every pursuit.