On Thursday 29 May, the change of command ceremony for the Unit took place at the 16th “Force Protection” Wing in Martina Franca (TA), between Colonel Andrea Giuliani and Colonel Mario Cito, the incoming Commander. The ‘handover’ was presided over by Air Division General Alessandro De Lorenzo, Commander of Mobility and Support Forces (MSF) from Milan, to whom the Wing reports. The event was attended by the Deputy Prefect of Taranto, Dr. Maria Luisa Ruocco, the Deputy Mayor of Martina Franca, Dr. Nunzia Convertini, and the highest civil, religious, and military authorities of the area.
The ceremony was rich with significant moments, culminating in the handover of the 16th Wing's War Flag, decorated with a gold and a silver medal for Aeronautical Valour, from the hands of Colonel Giuliani to Colonel Cito, as a symbolic act of the change of command of the Department.
Colonel Giuliani, in his farewell speech, after expressing his gratitude to the authorities and guests present at the ceremony, thanked the Wing's personnel for the extraordinary work carried out with humility, discipline, and honour, operating cohesively and synergistically to achieve institutional objectives. In extending warm good wishes to Colonel Cito, along with the hope that he may experience the same extraordinary human and professional journey at the helm of the Department, he added: “my final wish is that you, men and women of the glorious 16th Wing, simply continue to be yourselves, to dare, with courage and passion, to reach those seemingly impossible goals”.
Colonel Cito expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Air Force leadership for the trust placed in him by assigning him command of the 16th Wing during the unit's delicate transition period. The new Commander, after thanking the Authorities and Guests present, went on to dwell on the meaning of command as “responsibility and service to the Community, and to the Men and Women entrusted to the Commander”. He expressed his commitment to operating, with balance and passion, in synergy with all Institutions, the Territory and the relevant Parties, in order to fulfill the entrusted mission. Colonel Cito then wished Colonel Andrea Giuliani the best of fortunes. The new Commander also expressed a deep sense of honour and respect towards the personnel of the 16th Wing, who represent “a fundamental safeguard for the Security of the Republic”.
General De Lorenzo took the floor, expressing a deep sense of respect for the War Flag of the 16th Wing. The Commander of the CFMS, after greeting the authorities present at the ceremony, addressed words of appreciation to Colonel Giuliani for leading the resource entrusted to him “towards fundamental achievements for the entire Defence sector”. The General then sent a message of good wishes to Colonel Mario Cito for the prestigious role he will be taking up. Before concluding his speech, the General expressed words of praise to all the Wing's personnel for the results achieved.
