15 women in uniform awarded by the Minister of Defence on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of women joining the Armed Forces. The award, presented on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the entry of women into the Armed Forces, aimed to highlight the commitment made by personnel in service activities carried out both in Italy and in operations outside national borders. Captain De Lellis, a C-130J pilot at the 46th Air Brigade in Pisa, earned the coveted recognition for distinguishing herself through her work both within the Unit and for having participated in numerous real operations in the Afghan theatre. Furthermore, she took part in the “4 Stars for Uganda” humanitarian mission in Gulu, as a member of the C-130J crew that transported a large cargo of essential goods to be distributed to the population, working personally for the success of the mission, which was conducted in the presence of great logistical, technical and operational difficulties.
Warrant Officer Second Class Mariangela Ferrara is serving at the 37th Wing in Trapani Birgi as an operative assigned to the “Armament Systems and Aircraft Outfitting Unit” of the Aircraft Efficiency Group. As the first female non-commissioned “armourer” officer to perform Alert Duty as a weapon system specialist, she also participated in the preparation and readiness activities for the F-16 aircraft engaged in Operation “Unified Protector”, contributing, within her remit, to the flawless execution of the assigned mission.
Leading Aircraftman Federica Santaniello, an Air Force Fusilier serving at the 9th Wing in Grazzanise, distinguished herself for her irreproachable professionalism and commendable courage displayed during service rendered in the Afghan theatre and for having contributed to the protection of assets in operationally highly sensitive contexts such as, for example, the 37th Wing in Trapani, a deployment base for NATO aircraft as part of NATO Operation “Unified Protector”.
