The award was presented at Palazzo Aeronautica by a delegation from the Air Force Association. After meeting the President of the Air Force Association, Gen. S.A. (r) Sciandra, for a brief greeting, General Preziosa received the delegation from the A.A.A. of Monterotondo – Mentana, led by the President of the Association, General (r) Aldo Del Sordo, who officially presented the award with the following citation: “Chief of Staff of the Air Force [...] through incessant, passionate, and unconditional leadership and confirmed and far-sighted decision-making ability, has promoted the development of extraordinary and varied initiatives at the highest and most challenging levels in Italy and abroad, contributing to ensuring the Air Force a leading position in the vast and complex international arena.“.
The “Fausto Cecconi” award was established by the Arma Aeronautica Association (A.A.A.) of Monterotondo – Mentana in 2004, with the patronage of the National Presidency of the A.A.A., to mark the centenary of the birth of Captain Pilot Fausto Cecconi, who died prematurely on 19 March 1931 while flying a Savoia-Marchetti S.64, which crashed into the sea near Marina di Pisa following an explosion caused by an accumulation of flammable vapours.
