Italian Government
National Armaments Director
Admiral Giacinto OTTAVIANI
Born in San Benedetto del Tronto on 19 July 1964, Admiral Giacinto Ottaviani graduated from the Italian Naval Academy (class of 1983–1987).
During his operational career at sea, he served as Navigation and Communications Officer aboard the frigate EURO, taking part in operations in the Persian Gulf in 1988 to protect national maritime traffic during the Iran–Iraq War.
He later commanded the patrol vessel CASSIOPEA (1994–1995), conducting several fisheries surveillance operations in the Strait of Sicily.
From 2003 to 2004 he served as Executive Officer of the frigate AVIERE, participating in two NATO Operation Active Endeavour missions in the Mediterranean aimed at countering illicit trafficking and international terrorism. He subsequently commanded the frigate ESPERO (2004–2005), taking part in two further Active Endeavour operations focused on combating illicit trafficking and illegal migration.
Between 2009 and 2010 he commanded the destroyer ANDREA DORIA, leading Operation TUCANO, a mission aimed at promoting the Italian naval industry and strengthening anti-piracy efforts in South America and the Gulf of Guinea.
Ashore, Admiral Ottaviani has held several senior positions mainly in the field of personnel management and training within defence staff structures. He served as Head of the Officers Assignment Division at the Navy Personnel Directorate (2014–2016), Head of the Personnel Division at the Italian Navy General Staff (2016–2018), and Head of the Personnel Division at the Defence General Staff (2018–2021).
From 2021 to 2024 he served as President of the Centre for Higher Defence Studies – Postgraduate School, while also acting as Head of the Defence Cyber Training Hub. During the same period he was Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Strategic Leadership Journal and Co-Director of the International School of Science Diplomacy at the “Ettore Majorana” Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture in Erice.
From 2024 to 2025 he served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff.
Since 4 June 2025, he has been serving as Italian National Armaments Director.
Admiral Ottaviani holds a degree in Physics from the University of Parma (1994), a Master of Business Administration from Boston University (2002), and a second-level Master’s degree in Global Strategy and Security from Sapienza University of Rome (2014). He also attended the Joint Services Staff College and the Italian Institute for Advanced Defence Studies.
National Armaments Director
Admiral Giacinto OTTAVIANI
Born in San Benedetto del Tronto on 19 July 1964, Admiral Giacinto Ottaviani graduated from the Italian Naval Academy (class of 1983–1987).
During his operational career at sea, he served as Navigation and Communications Officer aboard the frigate EURO, taking part in operations in the Persian Gulf in 1988 to protect national maritime traffic during the Iran–Iraq War.
He later commanded the patrol vessel CASSIOPEA (1994–1995), conducting several fisheries surveillance operations in the Strait of Sicily.
From 2003 to 2004 he served as Executive Officer of the frigate AVIERE, participating in two NATO Operation Active Endeavour missions in the Mediterranean aimed at countering illicit trafficking and international terrorism. He subsequently commanded the frigate ESPERO (2004–2005), taking part in two further Active Endeavour operations focused on combating illicit trafficking and illegal migration.
Between 2009 and 2010 he commanded the destroyer ANDREA DORIA, leading Operation TUCANO, a mission aimed at promoting the Italian naval industry and strengthening anti-piracy efforts in South America and the Gulf of Guinea.
Ashore, Admiral Ottaviani has held several senior positions mainly in the field of personnel management and training within defence staff structures. He served as Head of the Officers Assignment Division at the Navy Personnel Directorate (2014–2016), Head of the Personnel Division at the Italian Navy General Staff (2016–2018), and Head of the Personnel Division at the Defence General Staff (2018–2021).
From 2021 to 2024 he served as President of the Centre for Higher Defence Studies – Postgraduate School, while also acting as Head of the Defence Cyber Training Hub. During the same period he was Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Strategic Leadership Journal and Co-Director of the International School of Science Diplomacy at the “Ettore Majorana” Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture in Erice.
From 2024 to 2025 he served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff.
Since 4 June 2025, he has been serving as Italian National Armaments Director.
Admiral Ottaviani holds a degree in Physics from the University of Parma (1994), a Master of Business Administration from Boston University (2002), and a second-level Master’s degree in Global Strategy and Security from Sapienza University of Rome (2014). He also attended the Joint Services Staff College and the Italian Institute for Advanced Defence Studies.
