Thursday 23 September, at the “J. Calò Carducci” Military Airport in Bari Palese, home to the Mobile Command and Control Unit, the Lieutenant Colonel Maurizio Nacci he handed over the command of the Department to Lieutenant Colonel Andrea Maggi.
The ceremony was presided over by Brigadier General Glauco Luigi Mora, Commander of the Aerospace Control Brigade of the Aerospace Operations Command (COA) of Poggio Renatico (FE), in the presence of military and religious authorities.
In his farewell speech, the Lieutenant Colonel Nacci he wanted to point out how the prestigious role he carried out was “an extraordinary experience, the most intense I have had in my now long career in aviation”. He then greeted and thanked the Commanders of the Units located on the Bari Palese airport grounds, who have always guaranteed vital support for the activities of the R.M.C.C. Subsequently, he addressed all the personnel of the Unit, thanking them for their valuable and constant work that has allowed important objectives to be achieved, describing the men and women of the R.M.C.C. as “unrivalled witnesses to the finest aeronautical tradition because they operate in silence, placing the tiles on the mosaic of actions that the Armed Force builds day by day, and finally extending to his successor the warmest wishes for a “peaceful period of Command”. The outgoing Commander then concluded by stating that “men pass, but ideas remain and continue to walk on the legs of other men” and therefore, the men and women of the R.M.C.C. “they represent the continuity of a mission, that of the Armed Force, which cannot be interrupted” with the aim of guaranteeing the primary task of an Air Defence Department which, “by definition, it is to make sure you are ready for any circumstance.
The new Commander, after expressing deep gratitude to the Higher Authorities for the trust placed in him and thanking the outgoing Commander for the excellent condition in which he left the Unit, stressed how, in today's continuously and rapidly transforming world, where technologies evolve ceaselessly and threats take on ever-new forms, it is imperative to keep both the supplied systems and personnel training constantly updated according to the most modern standards. Continuing, the Lieutenant Colonel Maggi he highlighted that his command action will be oriented towards the achievement of all operational objectives and the full satisfaction of the requirements set by the Armed Force, operating with honesty and self-denial. He reiterated to all personnel of the Unit that “iIn a strategic context that requires flexibility, resilience and a rapid response, the strengthening of our operational capabilities will depend on the ability to conceive, build and develop, starting today, what the future will demand of us”. Finally, he wanted to assure the staff of the R.M.C.C. of his full support, utmost trust and constant willingness to listen, so that any difficulties can be overcome together.
Finally, in the concluding speech, the General Moore, after thanking Lieutenant Colonel Nacci and wishing Lieutenant Colonel Maggi the best for a fruitful period of command, he emphasised how, in recent years, “The Mobile Command and Control Unit has seen its participation in out-of-area operations grow, increasing its operational capacity to the point of becoming an enabler indispensable for Operational Commanders”. He also added that the milestones achieved, “were made possible thanks to the expertise and professionalism of the men and women of the Unit”.
It R.M.C.C. it stems from the Italian Air Force's need to increase its commitment to operational theatres outside national borders by means of readily deployable, modular, transportable and flexible assets, as well as being integrated with national Armed Force systems and interoperable with joint, NATO and allied country systems. Through operational and technical components, the Unit enables the theatre Commander (even when deployed) to exercise the Command and Control function, allowing them to plan, direct and execute air operations, autonomously or in conjunction with other Armed Forces/Nations.
