Major General Riccardo Rinaldi Succeeds Lieutenant General Sergio Antonio Scalese
Tuesday 22 October, at the Courtyard of Aerial Palace Transfliers, the change of command ceremony took place General of the Weaponisation Role between Squadra Generale Sergio Antonio Scalese (outgoing) and the Major General Riccardo Rinaldi (emerging). The following attended the event: Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, former Chief of Staff Alberto Rosso, Head of the course Uranus 3rd to which General Scalese belongs, the highest Armed Forces Authorities, Generals of the Corps in active service and retired, as well as a representation of Officers belonging to the Corps.
At the opening, Army Corps General Scalese addressed his thoughts to War Ensign of the Air Force and a respectful tribute to the fallen of the Air Force, whose names are engraved on the marble of the place where the ceremony took place. Addressing a warm greeting to the representatives of the Urano courses, he outlined a picture of his 46-year career, emphasising that “Authoritarianism is never worthwhile. While it may achieve immediate results, in the medium and long term, it always proves to be ineffective as well as harmful to the organisation and demotivating for people. The path of leading by example, sharing objectives and building authority is undoubtedly more challenging, but it leads to more lasting results and, above all, to greater growth for everyone.”He then focused on the figure of the officer from the Weapons Branch whotoday it is able to express a high-profile professionalism in all areas of employment in which it is called to operate, such as Space and the cyber domain. Settings marked by the so-called –emerging and disruptive technologies– first and foremost Artificial intelligence, technological ecosystems potentially capable of evolving and deciding autonomously where the human factor will have to take a central role, necessary to serve technology and not be subservient to it”.
Major General Riccardo Rinaldi, who formally took up his post on 24 October 2024, on receiving the baton from General Scalese, wished to emphasise the great responsibility he feels towards the approximately 2,000 Officers who make up the Arms corps, stating that his work will be based on the strength of the team, where each person will be able to make their contribution: it will not be enough to simply be present but to strongly want to be part of it. He also shared his intention towards “enhancement, constant growth and recognition of competence”in synergy with the stakeholder in FA” continuing the effort to modernise and grow the Role in the belief that a proactive Role of the Weapons, aligned with the needs of the Armed Force, is a benefit not only for the Armed Force itself but also for the entire Defence \”.
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, after thanking General Scalese for his long and qualified service, then addressed the Officers of the Weapons Branch present, highlighting how the full operational capability of the Air Force in the broad spectrum of assigned tasks, requires, today as in the past, a plurality of competencies and skills, among which the skills of the Officers of the Weapons Branch are decisive, especially in consideration of the high level of professionalism achieved.
