The Italian officer succeeds his predecessor, General Villaroya of the Spanish Air Force. During the event, the EAG Director, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, thanked General Villarroya for his service during his two years in command, a period in which the EAG confirmed its status as a relevant organisation for the seven participating nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom). The objective of the EAG is precisely to increase the operational capabilities of the member air forces in pursuing common interests, primarily through mechanisms that improve interoperability at the tactical and operational levels.
General De Ponti is an experienced military pilot with a long background in Combat SAR (Search and Rescue) and Special Operations. Before heading USAM (Airspace and Meteorology Office), his most recent posting, he served at the 3rd Department of the Air Force General Staff, and prior to that he held the position of Defence and Air Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Prague.
