On 3 December 2025, at the hangar of the 9th Wing in Grazzanise, the official Command handover ceremony took place: Pilot Colonel Salvatore Florio he handed over command to the Pilot Colonel Davide Verdolini, in the presence of the Commander of the 1st Special Operations Air Brigade, Air Brigadier General Diego Sismondini.
Military and civilian authorities attended the event, alongside institutional representatives and local veterans' associations. During the ceremony, a solemn tribute was paid to the War Flag of the 9th Wing, symbol of the traditions and commitment of the Unit.
The outgoing Commander greeted the personnel of the Unit, highlighting their professionalism and spirit of service: «Over recent years, the 9th Wing has demonstrated, once again, that it is a solid, competent team capable of tackling every operational scenario with professionalism and a spirit of service. The credit goes to the personnel: an engine of men and women who, with dedication and expertise, have made every achievement possible. I am leaving a Unit in full growth, strengthened by the synergy with the local area and with all components of the Armed Forces. It has been a privilege to lead it.»
The incoming Commander, the Colonel Verdolini, he reiterated the value of business continuity and the central role of the Department within the Special Air Operations, of Personnel Recovery, of emergency medical evacuation and support to Special Forces using the helicopter HH-101A “Caesar”. “Taking command of the 9th Wing – said the incoming Commander – is an honour and a responsibility that I accept with determination. I find a Unit that is mature, well-prepared and fully integrated within the operational framework of the Italian Air Force. The evolution of the capabilities of the HH-101A and the professional growth of the personnel represent the foundations upon which to build our upcoming objectives. We will continue to work with realism, cohesion and ambition to further strengthen our operational capabilities.»
The Highest Authority, the Commander of the 1st Special Operations Air Brigade, General Diego Sismondini, he also expressed his appreciation for the Wing's role in the national air defence system and for future operational prospects: «the 9th Wing represents a strategic asset for the Armed Forces, capable of ensuring readiness, flexibility and high-level expertise in complex operational contexts. The work carried out by the personnel has consolidated unique capabilities within the national landscape and has prepared the Unit to face potential future out-of-area deployments with credibility. The command transition takes place at a time of growth and opens up new operational prospects for the Unit's contribution to the country's security.»
It 9th Wing, with its HH-101A flight assets and S.T.O.S. (Supporto Tattico alle Operazioni Speciali - Special Operations Tactical Support) operators, conducts Special Air Operations as well as high-value personnel search and recovery in hostile territory (Personnel Recovery – PR), providing air support to surface forces and intervening, in the presence of casualties, with emergency medical evacuation activities. As military personnel serving the State, the 9th Wing's very mission is to contribute to the country's security and the defence of vital national interests, protect human lives and be increasingly useful to the nation. Furthermore, the Unit contributes to the security arrangements of military deployments abroad, peacekeeping and humanitarian relief operations, as well as the implementation at national level of protective measures during major events or the maintenance of public order. The 9th Wing reports directly to the 1st Special Operations Air Brigade and is subordinate, as a High Command, to the Air Squad Command based in Milan. The 9th Wing reports directly to the 1st Special Operations Air Brigade and is subordinate, as a High Command, to the Air Squad Command based in Milan.
