CHANGE AT THE TOP OF MILITARY AERONAUTICS

The handover of responsibilities between General Bernardis and General Preziosa will take place at the military airport of Pratica di Mare on Tuesday, February 26th.
The handover of the delivery between the two General Officers will take place symbolically with the passing of the War Flag of the Aeronautic Force, which represents the 20 War Flags and the 13 Institute Flags of the departments and agencies of the Armed Forces. Journalists who wish to participate in the event are invited to contact the Public Information Office at the following contact details: 06.4986.6132 – fax 06.4986.4341 – e-mail: stampa@aeronautica.difesa.it.
Agenda: General Bernardis General Preziosa TEAM GENERAL MANAGER AEREA GIUSEPPE BERNARDIS General Giuseppe Bernardis, born in Porcìa (Pordenone) on January 5, 1948, comes from the Normal Courses of the Air Force Academy, where he attended from 1968 to 1971 with the ‘Grifo III’ course. In 1973, he obtained the military pilot’s certificate for the T-38 aircraft at the Webb Air Base in Texas (USA), and has accumulated approximately 4,000 hours of flight time on 19 different types of aircraft. He attended the Normal Course, the Higher Course of the Air War School and the Air War College at the Air University of the U.S. Air Force. In 1974-75, Tenente, was employed as a fighter-reconnaissance pilot of the 132nd and 28th Group of the 3rd Aerobrigata of Villafranca (Verona). At the end of 1975, he was assigned to the 313th National Acrobatics Patrol Group ‘Frecce Tricolori’ of Rivolto (Udine), where, flying as a pilot in the acrobatic formation, he commanded the 540th Squadron. In 1979, Maggiore was assigned to the 20th Operational Training Group as a tactics instructor pilot on the F-104 aircraft, where in 1980, Lieutenant Colonel, assumed the position of Chief of the Training Section. In 1982 he was reassigned to the 313th National Acrobatics Patrol Group as Commander. In 1986 he was assigned to the General Staff (Rome) as Flight Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. In 1989, Colonel Colonnello assumed the position of Head of Electronic and Air Defense Office of the 6th Department of the Air Staff. In 1990 he was assigned to the 6th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Ghedi (Brescia) as Deputy Commander and then as Commander. In 1992 he was reassigned to the 6th Department of the Air Staff as Chief of the Air Defence Office and Command and Control. In 1995 he assumed the position of Chief of the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General of the Air Force in January 1996. In 1997 he was appointed as an Air and Defence Attache at the Italian Embassy in Washington D.C. (USA). From October 20, 2000 to October 20, 2002, he was Chief of the 4th Department of the Air Force General Staff. In January 2001 he was promoted to the rank of Air Division General. From October 28, 2002 to October 31, 2006, he held the position of Chief of the 4th Secret Service Department. In January 2006 he was promoted to the rank of Air Force General. From November 1st 2006 to February 17th 2010 he held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Since February 25, 2010 he has held the position of Chief of Staff of the Air Force. GENERAL OF THE AIR FORCE PASQUALE PREZIOSA General Pasquale Preziosa was born in Bisceglie (BA) on March 21, 1953. He joined the Air Force in 1971 with the “Marte III” course at the Air Academy.
In 1972, he obtained his aeroplane pilot licence on the P 148 aircraft, and in 1976, his military pilot licence on the G91T aircraft.
After qualifying on the F104 aircraft, he was assigned, in 1977, to the 156th Group of the 36th Wing as a fighter-bomber pilot.
During his assignment to the 36th Wing, he commanded the 382nd and subsequently the 384th squadron of the 156th Group.
He attended the Normal, Higher and Flight Safety courses at the Air Warfare School in Florence.
In 1982 he qualified as a flight instructor on Aviogetti and in 1983 he qualified as a flight instructor on the Tornado aircraft at the British base of Cottesmore.
From 1985 to August 1987, he held the position of Chief of Operations for the 36th Wing, and from August 1987 to September 1988, he held the position of Commander of the 156th Group of the 36th Wing.
During the period July 1989 – January 1992, he held the position of Flight Assistant and Head of the Special Secretariat of General of S.A. Giorgio Santucci and General of S.A. Adelchi Pillinini, both Commanders of the 2nd Air Region.
Promoted to Colonel in December 1991, he was subsequently assigned to the Air Force Staff as Head of the 2nd Section of the General Planning, Programming and Budget Office.
In 1993, he attended the “Defense Resources Management Course” in the United States of America.
From 12 September 1994 to 9 September 1996, he held the position of Commander of the 36th Wing.
From September 1996 to 31 October 1997, he held the position of Head of the 2nd Office of the General Planning, Programming and Budget Office of the SMA, concurrently holding the position of Head of the General Planning, Programming and Budget Office of the SMA from May 1997, during a vacancy.
From 1 November 1997 to 23 July 1998, he held the position of Head of the 2nd Office of the General Planning Department of the SMA and from July to October 1998, that of Deputy Head of the aforementioned Department.
From October 1998 to August 1999, he attended the 50th Session of the IASD.
On 1 January 1999, he was promoted to Air Brigadier General and, from 23 August 1999 to 3 December 2001, he held the post of Head of the Air Staff's Office of the Air Force.
On December 4, 2001, he assumed the position of Deputy Chief of Department of the 3rd Department of the SMA and, from June 15, 2002 to July 30, 2002, he worked at the “Enduring Freedom” response cell in Tampa (USA) with the assignment of Italian Senior National Representative.
On 30 August 2003, he took up the appointment of Defence Attaché and Defence Cooperation Attaché in Washington D.C. On 1 January 2005, he was promoted to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal.
From 11 September 2006 to 14 February 2008, he held the position of Head of the General Office for Planning, Programming and Budget of the Defence Staff.
From 15 February 2008 to 4 October 2009, he held the position of Head of the III Department of the Defence Staff.
From 5 October 2009, he has been available to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force for special assignments.
On 22 June 2009, he was promoted to Air Force General.
From 21 April 2010 to 5 December 2011, he held the position of Commander of the AM Schools/3rd Air Region.
From 6 December 2011 to 24 February 2013, he served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence.
He has over 2,300 hours of flight experience, participating in aerial operations in Bosnia in a Tornado aircraft.
He also holds degrees in International Diplomatic Sciences and Aeronautical Sciences.
He has been married to Mrs Elisabetta since 1978 and has two daughters: Stefania and Roberta. From 25 February 2013, he took up the post of Chief of Staff of the Air Force. General Preziosa is awarded the title of Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the Mauriziana Medal for merit for ten years of military career, the Gold Aeronautic Medal for long service, the Gold Cross with Star for Service of Seniority, the NATO Medal for service rendered in the former Yugoslavia and Kosovo, the Medal of the Legion of Merit awarded by the President of the United States of America, the Gold Medal of the Eagles, First Class, of the Republic of Albania, the Distinguishing Badge of Merit for service rendered to the General Staff of the Defense, and the Insignia of Merit for service rendered to the General Staff of the Defense.