PRINTBorn in Turin in 1953, he attended the Modena Military Academy from 1972 to 1974 and the Turin School of Application from 1974 to 1976, where he graduated in Military Strategic Sciences. He also holds degrees in Diplomatic and International Sciences from the University of Trieste, a Master’s degree in Strategic Sciences and a university specialisation in Human Sciences from the Augustinian Academy in Rome.
Appointed in 1974 as Infantry Officer, Alpine speciality, in 1976 he was commander of a rifle platoon at the ‘Susa’ Alpine battalion in Pinerolo and in 1977 he was Deputy Commander of the ‘Taurinense’ Alpine Brigade’s tank counter company. He then commanded, in 1980, the mortar company as well as the Alpine company (riflemen) at the ‘Trento’ Alpine Battalion of the ‘Tridentina’ Alpine Brigade and from 1983 to 1986 the Officer Cadet Company and the Command Company at the Alpine Military School in Aosta.
After the General Staff Course, he was assigned to the Army General Staff in 1987 where he served as a Staff Officer in the Procurement Programme Office.
Promoted to Major in 1988, he then attended the Advanced Staff Course from 1989 to 1990.
In 1990, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, he was transferred to the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army, taking up the post of Head of the Chief of Staff’s Secretariat.
In 1992, he was reassigned to the Alpine Battalion ‘Susa’ as Commander, which, under his command, was deployed to Mozambique, as part of the UN peacekeeping mission, with the main task of ensuring the security of the Beira corridor, facilitating and supporting humanitarian and medical relief to local population.
At the end of 1993, he was appointed Head of the Coordination and Studies Section in the Office of the Chief of the Army Staff.
Promoted to Colonel, he attended the US Army War College in 1996 and then commanded the 2nd Alpine regiment of the ‘Taurinense’ Brigade in Cuneo. Subsequently, he served as Head of the Planning Office of the Army General Staff.
In September 2001, he took up the post of Military Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Washington D.C., USA.
Promoted to Brigadier General in January 2002, in August 2004, he took command of the ‘Taurinense’ Alpine Brigade, and from July 2005 to February 2006, he took command of the ‘Multinational Brigade Kabul’ in Afghanistan and with it, responsibility for the Operations Area of the Kabul province, directing, among other things, numerous humanitarian initiatives in the sphere of reconstruction activities and first aid to the population.
Promoted to Division General in January 2006, in March of the same year, he took up the post of Head of the Operations Department of the Inter-Forces Defence High Command.
In January 2007, the UN Secretary-General appointed him Force Commander of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon, where he covered the role of UN Force Commander, as well as Mission Chief, and became responsible for the entire UN civilian component in Lebanon, including the coordination of humanitarian aid and reconstruction and relief activities undertaken.
In January 2010, he was promoted to the rank of Army General, and in February of the same year, he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence. In October 2011, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Army and subsequently promoted to the rank of General.
From February 2015 to November 2018, he was Chief of Defence Staff.
Appointed in November 2017, he served as Chairman of the European Union Military Committee from 6 November 2018 to 15 May 2022.
A recipient of numerous decorations, he was awarded 5 Solemn and 9 Simple Commendations. He was also awarded honorary citizenship of the Province of Tyre (Lebanon) and of the municipalities of Villanova d’Asti and of Fontanile (AT) and of the city of Biella.
On May 16, 2022 he has been appointed Chairman of Fincantieri SpA and on September 28, 2022 Chairman of Assonave (Italian Shipbuilding Association).
He is the author of numerous books, studies and articles.