The handover ceremony between Gen. Crocitto and Col. Citta was attended by Gen. Cormio, Commander of the Air Force Schools/3rd Air Region. During the event, chaired by Air Force Gen. Vitantonio Cormio, Commander of the Air Force Schools/3rd Air Region, General Crocitto recalled that the ceremony not only marks the end of his command of the Headquarters but also the conclusion of his active service:“The moment, therefore, is not only special but is exceedingly rich in meaning and laden with every human emotion. Indeed, many thoughts and memories are succeeding one another in my mind and soul at this moment, and for each of them, I relive the same charge of emotions and feelings that pervaded me when they materialised. They have been years of intense work and considerable commitment, at times even of sacrifice, unfortunately marked by moments of bitterness and dejection due to events that were later resolved positively, but amply repaid by the flattering results achieved.”General Crocitto then addressed what he considered to be the true protagonist of the Department, namely the Personnel, thanks to whose skills, will, and sense of belonging it was possible to achieve the objectives assigned by the High Command with excellence.
Colonel Citta, in his speech, wished to outline the guidelines of the prestigious role entrusted to him, stating: “I am fully aware that taking command of a unit in the current period is by no means an easy task. One doesn't need to be an established strategist to understand that years of scarce material and, above all, financial resources await us, but if we reflect on it, isn't this precisely the moment when command action can be most celebrated?”.
Colonel Citta also added that the difficult task ahead does not concern him, as the personnel have given him tangible proof, even in the brief period of his shadowing, of their ability to pursue and achieve the objectives assigned to the General Headquarters.
The Commander D.A. Cormio finally, in his speech, after greeting the Authorities and guests present, expressed his appreciation towards the Headquarters staff who, with the professional qualities demonstrated and very well guided by their Commander, have contributed to pursuing ever-greater efficiency of the Armed Force. General Cormio, continuing his speech, offered heartfelt thanks to General Crocitto for all he has done during his long and exemplary career.
Colonel Paolo Citta was born in Maglie (LE) on 16 November 1962 and joined the Armed Forces on 7 January 1982 at the Air Force Application School in Florence.
Specialising in the local protection of Air Force installations, he was assigned, in April 1982 with the rank of Second Lieutenant, to the Basic Initial Jet Flight School of Lecce-Galatina, where he served in the local Defence Group.
In April 1983, he was transferred to the 32nd Wing in Amendola, where he continued to serve in Local Defence within the V.A.M. Section of the Defence Group, specialising in NBC Defence.
Having transferred to the Permanent Active Service, in July 1985 he was assigned to the 37th Wing at Trapani-Birgi, to take up the position of Anti-Aircraft Section Chief of the Defence Group. After attending the 1st Central Course on Spada-Aspide System Observation and participating in the first campaign of live Spada missile firings at the Capo San Lorenzo firing range, he held, for just over a year, the acting position of Defence Group Commander of the 37th Wing. Within the same Unit, he subsequently held the positions of V.A.M. Section Chief and Personnel Section Chief.
In September 1988, he was transferred to the Defence Group of the 3rd Air Force Region Headquarters and subsequently to the Staff of the same Region Command, where he held the position of Acting Head of Section for Organisation of the 1st Office. From 1989 to 1995, he served at the 32nd RAM Group in Otranto, holding the position of Defence Section Head.
In August 1995, with the rank of Major, he served for one year in Western Sahara as a United Nations Military Observer with the “Minurso” mission. In August 1996, he was reassigned to the 3rd RA Command to take up the position of Head of the Non-Commissioned Officers Deployment Section of the Territorial Personnel Directorate.
In 1997, he participated in the multinational “Neo Alba” mission, during which he held the positions of Head of Personnel Nucleus of the Operational Command Cell at the 3rd Air Region Staff and Head of Logistics Services Section at Tirana-Rinas Airport in Albania.
Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in September 1998, he was transferred to Pantelleria to take up the post of Commander of the Airport Detachment. Subsequently, he attended the 3rd ISSMI Course and the 1st Master's in Strategic-Military International Studies in collaboration with the University of Rome “Luiss” and the University of Milan. He also attended the Joint Forces course for Legal Advisor in the Armed Forces.
In May 2001, he was transferred to DIPMA in Rome, with the role of Head of the Marescialli Employment Section, until December 2004, when he was assigned to SHAPE (Belgium) to take up the role of Chief of Staff Section of the Italian Military Representation at the NATO Strategic Command for Operations.
He was a member of the NATO Resource Advisory Committee, an advisory body reporting directly to the Chief of DMA, and an expert on the use of “NATO Common Funding” in “non-Article 5” operations.
In 2008, having returned to his homeland and been promoted to Colonel, he was assigned as Commander of the 16th Force Protection Wing in Martina Franca (TA).
From 4 October 2011, he was assigned to the CSAM/3rd RA with the role of “Project Manager”.
He is the author of the publication “NATO Funding in Out-of-Area Operations” and the “Sector Study on Defining a Rational and Sustainable Level of Ambition for the FCA Component”.
He attended the following further specialised courses:
Defence Organisation Managers' Course; Intermediate English Language Course; Seminar on new Accident Prevention Organisations; Multinational Crisis Management Course; INFOSEC Officer Course; Terminal Area Security Officer (TASO) Course; Site Security Officer (SSO) Course; Information Course for Employers.
Colonel Citta holds the following honours: Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Gold Cross for Length of Service; Commemorative Cross for Military Peace Missions; Commemorative Cross for International Aid Activities in Albania; UN Medal for participation in the mission in Western Sahara; NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia; NATO Medal for Kosovo; Bronze Military Medal for Long Command.
Colonel Citta is married and has two children.
