General B.A. Balestri succeeded General D.A. Taricco on Tuesday 26 February, in the Hall of Heroes at Palazzo Aeronautica in Rome, in the presence of the Deputy Chief of the Air Force General Staff – Air Force Lieutenant General Luca Goretti – a handover ceremony took place for the Head of the 6th Department for “Economic and Financial Affairs” of the General Staff, between Air Force Major General Giandomenico Taricco and Air Force Brigadier General Giovanni Balestri. In his farewell address, General Taricco looked back on his rewarding experience in the financial sector, characterised by a radical overhaul of budget management processes, emphasising the strategic importance of financial planning processes, particularly in the current climate of underfunding. He then extended his warm thanks to the authorities present, to colleagues from the Armed Forces and the Joint Forces sector, and to representatives from industry for their invaluable collaboration, thanks to which it had been possible to achieve the outstanding results attained. Finally, he expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Department’s staff for their unfailing support, which was crucial to the smooth running of the entire organisation, and wished his successor every success. General Balestri expressed his sincere gratitude to the higher authorities for the trust placed in him in appointing him to this important role, whilst expressing his admiration for the professionalism and dedication of the men and women of the 6th Unit who, humbly and quietly, carry out their duties every day with extraordinary skill in the service of the Air Force and the Nation. He finally expressed his deep gratitude to General Taricco for his friendship, hospitality and support, wishing him the very best of luck in his forthcoming prestigious post within the joint forces. At the close of the ceremony, General Goretti warmly thanked General Taricco for the tenacious, determined and pragmatic leadership he had shown in guiding the Unit, holding him up to everyone as an example to follow. In wishing the new Head of the Unit every success, General Goretti also reiterated the importance of enhancing the cohesion, driving force, specialist expertise and creativity that have so far characterised the activities carried out by the 6th Unit, with a view to fulfilling the Air Force’s “Mission”.
