Wednesday 13th October saw the handover of duties with Colonel Caroselli, in the presence of the Commander of the Air Force Schools / 3rd Air Region of Bari. The ceremony, preceded by a minute's silence in honour of the four Alpini fallen in Afghanistan on Friday 9th October, was attended by the Prefect of Florence, Dr. Paolo Padoin, the Commander of ISMA, Air Brigadier General Claudio Salerno, and the highest civil, religious and military authorities of the city of Florence. After two years of command, Colonel Caroselli stated that the primary objective assigned to the School, namely to ‘train excellent citizens and potential leaders’, had been fully achieved. In particular, he emphasised how the School is effectively able to create the best conditions for students to grow culturally, morally, physically and in terms of character, in a military and aeronautical context highly integrated into the social fabric of the city of Florence. The ceremony reached its most evocative moment when Colonel Caroselli handed over the School Flag to General Salerno who, in turn, passing it to Colonel Baldacci, symbolically and significantly sealed the assumption of command of the School.
In his speech, Colonel Baldacci highlighted that the promising results achieved so far, in just four years of activity of the Air Force Military School, represent a valid and tangible prerequisite worthy of great attention, both at institutional and directorial level, for its ever-increasing and harmonious development. General Preziosa confirmed, in his speech, the achievement of the objectives obtained in the last two years, with particular reference to the completion of the study path by the first two courses, ‘Astro’ and ‘Bora’, with the flattering passing of the state exams by their respective students. He finally underlined how, in these two years, the Douhet School has returned citizens to society capable of representing added value in terms of ethical rigor and academic preparation. Colonel Caroselli is leaving his post to take up that of Commander of the ISMA Courses.
Colonel Baldacci, born in Perugia in 1954, comes from the standard courses of the Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli (Naples), which he attended from 1973 to 1977 with the ‘Orione III’ course. From 1977 to 1981, he served at the Air Power Standardisation and Research Department in Decimomannu (Cagliari), as Head of Command Secretariat and Head of TLC Air Operations Services Unit. In 1982, he was assigned to the Central Services Department of the Air Force (ReSCAM) in Rome, as Head of Telecommunications Services at the Air Force Headquarters Building. From 1987 to 1992, he was Head of the Private Secretariat and Officer attached to the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force. From 1992 to 1995, he served at the Italian Representation to the Atlantic Council in Brussels (Belgium), as national delegate for Air Defence within the NATO Air Defence Committee and the ACCS Programme. From 1995 to 1998, he held the position of Head of General Affairs Section and Deputy Head of Office to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. From 1999 to 2001, he was the Senior Officer attached to the Chief of Defence Staff (SMD). From 2001 to 2002, he performed the duties of Head of Staff Section and Deputy Head of Office to the Deputy Chief of SMD. From 2003 to 2008, he was Head of the 1st Coordination Office, within the General Office of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. From February 2008 to September 2010, he held the position of Head of Communications Office of the General Office of the Chief of SMD. Colonel Baldacci holds degrees in Aeronautical Sciences and Political Sciences. He is awarded the Gold Medal for Long Command, the Order of Merit Military (Mauriziana Medal) for 10 years of military service, the NATO Medal for participation in operations in Kosovo, and the NATO Medal for participation in operations in the territories of the former Yugoslavia. Since 2005, he has been an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and is also a Knight Commander of the Pontifical Order of Merit Militense of St. Gregory the Great. He is married with two children.
Multimedia Contributions Video: RAI3 TGR Tuscany from 13/10/2010 at 19:30
