Ministero della Difesa

​General​ Enzo Vecciarelli

General (Air Force) Enzo Vecciarelli has been holding the office of Chief of Defence since November 5th, 2018.

General Vecciarelli, an Interceptor Pilot, for the most of his operational carrier has served at the 4th Fighter Wing in Grosseto - Italy, where he held every operational positions up to Squadron Commander in 1991 and Wing Commander in the timeframe 1999 – 2002, achieving a total of over 2600 flight hours, more than 2000 on a F-104 Starfighter Jet.

Since 1993 until 1999, he served at the Personnel Division of Air Force Staff, first as Head of the Office for the employment of higher ranks officers, later as Chief Organization Branch. After being assigned to the Air Force Logistic Command Staff between 2002 and 2004, he held the positions of Head of the General Planning Branch, Head of the Operations Branch, and Deputy Chief of Staff.

In 2003, within the framework of the “Ancient Babylon Operation”, he led the first Air Force Contingent in Iraq at Tallil Air Base - Nassiriya.

Later, he was assigned to the National Armament Directorate as Deputy Chief III Division “Armaments Policy”, holding at the same time the position of National Representative in the most important European bodies such as: the “European Defence Agency” (EDA); the “Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matiere d’Armament” (OCCAR); the “Letter of Intent” (LoI) for the restructuring of the European Defence industry.

Since 2007 until 2010, he was employed at the Italian Embassy in Berlin as Defence and Air Force Attaché with secondary accreditation for The Netherlands and Denmark.

Upon coming back to Italy, he held the position of Commander of the Air Combat Forces Command (Headquarter - Milan) and was involved in the international military operations “Odyssey Dawn” and “Unified Protector” in Libya.

In 2011, he took position as Chief of Staff of the Air Force Operational Command.

Since 2012 until 2015, he was once again assigned to National Armaments Directorate as Director of the IV Armament Programmes Division, with responsibilities in the field of the acquisition and modernization of Defence systems as well as in the sector of International Cooperation.

From 26th February 2015 to 29th February 2016 he has been appointed Deputy Chief of the Defence General Staff.

General Enzo Vecciarelli hold the office of Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force from March 30th, 2016 to until November 5th, 2018.

As Chief of Defence he reports directly to the Minister of Defence, acting as his highest technical-military advisor.

He is responsible for planning, arrangement and employment of the Armed Force as a whole.

He prepares the general financial and joint operations planning, as well as all technical financial programs.

He stands above all the Chiefs of the Armed Forces and, with regard to technical-operational matters, the Defence Secretary General.

He presides the Armed Forces Chiefs of Staff Committee ad is also a permanent member of the Supreme Defence Council.