Italian Government
Chief of Defence
General Luciano Portolano
General Luciano Portolano commenced his career with the Modena Military Academy, attending Course 161. He subsequently undertook a number of further courses in Italy and abroad.
Throughout his military career, General Portolano has participated in numerous operations and missions that have seen the Italian Armed Forces contribute to international stability, security and peace, and protect and safeguard vital and strategic national interests.
In addition to command assignments in Italy and on overseas operations, he has also held staff assignments within the army, at the joint level and at international organisations.
From 1990 to 1991, he held the rank of Captain and participated in the UNIMOG mission (United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group) on the border between Iran and Iraq. The mission's objective was to monitor the buffer zone and ensure compliance with the ceasefire between the two states. Following the events of the First Gulf War in 1991, he was transferred by the United Nations to the border between Iraq and Kuwait to take part in the UNIKOM mission (United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission). This mission was established to create and monitor the demilitarised zone between the two countries, and he remained in this role until 1992.
In 1999, he assumed the role of Commander of the 67th Bersaglieri Battalion with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He participated in NATO Operations 'Joint Guarantor' in Macedonia and in Operation 'Joint Guardian' in Kosovo, where he led the units that constituted the Early Entry Forces of the national contingent.
In 2003, with the rank of Colonel, he led the 18th Bersaglieri Regiment in Operation 'Antica Babilonia 1' in Iraq. He was once again in command of the Early Entry Forces of the national contingent, deployed following the events connected with the 2nd Gulf War and the relative UN Security Council resolution, which urged the international community to contribute to the stability and security of the Iraqi country.
From 2011 to 2012, he served as Commander of the 'Sassari' Mechanised Brigade with the rank of Brigadier General. He deployed to Afghanistan with the Brigade to assume leadership of the multinational RC-W (Regional Command - West) within the NATO - ISAF (International Security and Assistance Force) operation.
In 2014, he was appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, to the role of Head of Mission and Force Commander of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. In this capacity, he led a team of over 10,000 UN peacekeepers from 40 countries for a two-year tenure, overseeing the monitoring of the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel.
In addition to his experience in the operational field, he has also gained diplomatic experience as Military Attaché in London from 2007 to 2010 and as Head of Mission of the aforementioned UNIFIL mission. In this role, he was the person directly responsible for politico-strategic mediation between the Lebanese and Israeli counterparts in compliance with UNSCR 1701.
General Portolano's professional background includes the positions of Chief of Staff and Head of the European Union Command Element of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples, held from 2016 to 2019. His role enabled him to interact with both the NATO leadership and international bodies, including the European Union, the African Union, the Mediterranean Dialogue countries and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. He also contributed to the development of the NATO Strategic Direction South/HUB.
On 2 September 2019, General Luciano Portolano was appointed Commander of the Joint Operations Headquarters, the HQ responsible for the military organisation and, in particular, for the planning, preparation and deployment of the Armed Forces as a whole in all operational theatres in which Italy has been called upon to intervene within the framework of the Alliances and international agreements. Furthermore, it has planned and directed the activities deployed by Defence as part of the national response to the epidemiological emergency caused by the Coronavirus.
As of 26 July 2021, following the adjustment of Defence's organisational architecture in line with the Strategic Concept of the Chief of Defence Staff in response to the new global challenges, the role of Commandant of the Command for Joint Operations was created. He also assumed the role of Commandant of the Command for Joint Operations, which is now responsible for multi-domain operations. Given the importance of the task and his new responsibilities, he has been functionally promoted to the rank and title of General (4 stars). In this role, General Portolano coordinated and directed Operation 'Aquila Omnia', which encompassed all the complex phases of the evacuation of Afghan citizens and civilian personnel from Kabul airport, in response to the deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan in August 2021.
He then served as Secretary General of Defence and National Armaments Director from 9 October 2021 to 3 October 2024.
Since 4 October 2024, General Portolano is the Chief of Defence Staff.
Education and qualifications
He attended:
- Course 161 nicknamed ‘Esempio’ (Example) at the Modena Military Academy and the School of Applied Military Studies in Turin;
- the Army Staff Course;
- the Advanced Staff Course;
- the Joint Staff College;
- the United States Army Command and Staff College in Kansas, US.
He holds:
- a Degree in strategic sciences from the School of Applied Military Studies - University of Turin;
- the Master's Degree in ‘Integrated Management and Development of Human Resources’;
- the Master's Degree in Strategic Sciences.
Summary on National Command assignments
Platoon and Company Commander, 27th Bersaglieri Battalion, ‘Ariete’ Armoured Brigade;
Commander, 67th Bersaglieri Battalion, 18th Bersaglieri Regiment, ‘Garibaldi’ Brigade;
Commander, 18th Bersaglieri Regiment, ‘Garibaldi’ Brigade;
Commander, ‘Sassari’ Mechanised Brigade
SUMMARY of Army and Joint Staff assignments
Staff Officer, Doctrine Section, Military Regulations and Policy Branch;
Staff Office, Training and Education Section, Training Branch;
Head Regulations Section, Doctrine, Training and Regulations Branch;
Head Operations Section, Force Deployment/COE Division;
Head Operations Division, Joint Operations Headquarters.
SUMMARY OF INTERNATIONAL AND/OR OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS
United Nations Mission in Iraq and Iran (United Nations IRAN - IRAQ Observation Group Mission) (1990-91);
United Nations Mission in Iraq and Kuwait (United Nations IRAQ - KUWAIT Observation Mission) (1991 - 92);
NATO Operation ‘Joint Guarantor’, in Macedonia, as Battalion Commander, in 1999;
NATO Operation ‘Joint Guardian’, in Kosovo, as Battalion Commander, in 1999;
Mission ‘Antica Babilonia 1’, in 2003, as Commander of the JTF Manoeuvre Task Force - Iraq;
Operation ISAF, in Afghanistan, as Commander of the Regional Command West in Herat, in 2011-2012;
UNIFIL, Lebanon, as Head of Mission and Commander of the UN Force, in 2014-2016
Chief of Staff and Head of the European Union Command Element at the Allied Joint Force Command - Naples in Lago Patria, from 1/9/2016 to 1/9/2019.
From 2007 to 2010, he served at the Italian Embassy in the UK, as Military Attaché also accredited for Ireland.
National and international Decorations
Officer of the Military Order of Italy;
Knight of the Military Order of Italy;
Silver Medal for Valour of the Army;
2 Gold Crosses for Army Merit (in 2006 and 2018);
Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic;
Mauritian Medal of Merit for 50 years of military career;
Gold Medal of Merit of the Italian Red Cross;
Medal of Merit for Long Command in the Army (20 years);
Defence General Staff Joint Medal of Honour;
Commemorative Cross for peacekeeping missions (3+ missions) ‘Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Lebanon’
Commemorative Cross for participation in operations to contribute to the maintenance of international security in Afghanistan;
2 NATO Medals for Meritorious Service (in 2012 and 2020);
NATO Kosovo Commemorative Medal;
NATO Commemorative Medal - Non Article 5, Afghanistan - ISAF;
UN Commemorative Medal UNIFIL Mission - Lebanon (4 turns);
UN Commemorative Medal UN Mission UNIMOG - Iraq (2 turns);
Commemorative Medal UN Mission UNIKOM - Iraq/Kuwait (2 turns);
Commemorative Medal EU ALTHEA Mission - Bosnia;
Commander of the National Order of the Cedar - Lebanon;
2 Officer of the Legion of Merit - USA (in 2014 and 2019);
Officer of the National Order of the French Legion of Honour;
Medal of Merit of the Defence of the Republic of Lithuania;
Grand Officer of the Naval Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Brazil;
Spanish cross for Naval Merit with White Decoration;
Medal for International Cooperation of the Republic of Slovenia.
Badges of Honour
Wounded in Service (Operation ‘Joint Guardian’ - Kosovo 1999)
Chief of Defence
General Luciano Portolano
General Luciano Portolano commenced his career with the Modena Military Academy, attending Course 161. He subsequently undertook a number of further courses in Italy and abroad.
Throughout his military career, General Portolano has participated in numerous operations and missions that have seen the Italian Armed Forces contribute to international stability, security and peace, and protect and safeguard vital and strategic national interests.
In addition to command assignments in Italy and on overseas operations, he has also held staff assignments within the army, at the joint level and at international organisations.
From 1990 to 1991, he held the rank of Captain and participated in the UNIMOG mission (United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group) on the border between Iran and Iraq. The mission's objective was to monitor the buffer zone and ensure compliance with the ceasefire between the two states. Following the events of the First Gulf War in 1991, he was transferred by the United Nations to the border between Iraq and Kuwait to take part in the UNIKOM mission (United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission). This mission was established to create and monitor the demilitarised zone between the two countries, and he remained in this role until 1992.
In 1999, he assumed the role of Commander of the 67th Bersaglieri Battalion with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He participated in NATO Operations 'Joint Guarantor' in Macedonia and in Operation 'Joint Guardian' in Kosovo, where he led the units that constituted the Early Entry Forces of the national contingent.
In 2003, with the rank of Colonel, he led the 18th Bersaglieri Regiment in Operation 'Antica Babilonia 1' in Iraq. He was once again in command of the Early Entry Forces of the national contingent, deployed following the events connected with the 2nd Gulf War and the relative UN Security Council resolution, which urged the international community to contribute to the stability and security of the Iraqi country.
From 2011 to 2012, he served as Commander of the 'Sassari' Mechanised Brigade with the rank of Brigadier General. He deployed to Afghanistan with the Brigade to assume leadership of the multinational RC-W (Regional Command - West) within the NATO - ISAF (International Security and Assistance Force) operation.
In 2014, he was appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, to the role of Head of Mission and Force Commander of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. In this capacity, he led a team of over 10,000 UN peacekeepers from 40 countries for a two-year tenure, overseeing the monitoring of the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel.
In addition to his experience in the operational field, he has also gained diplomatic experience as Military Attaché in London from 2007 to 2010 and as Head of Mission of the aforementioned UNIFIL mission. In this role, he was the person directly responsible for politico-strategic mediation between the Lebanese and Israeli counterparts in compliance with UNSCR 1701.
General Portolano's professional background includes the positions of Chief of Staff and Head of the European Union Command Element of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples, held from 2016 to 2019. His role enabled him to interact with both the NATO leadership and international bodies, including the European Union, the African Union, the Mediterranean Dialogue countries and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. He also contributed to the development of the NATO Strategic Direction South/HUB.
On 2 September 2019, General Luciano Portolano was appointed Commander of the Joint Operations Headquarters, the HQ responsible for the military organisation and, in particular, for the planning, preparation and deployment of the Armed Forces as a whole in all operational theatres in which Italy has been called upon to intervene within the framework of the Alliances and international agreements. Furthermore, it has planned and directed the activities deployed by Defence as part of the national response to the epidemiological emergency caused by the Coronavirus.
As of 26 July 2021, following the adjustment of Defence's organisational architecture in line with the Strategic Concept of the Chief of Defence Staff in response to the new global challenges, the role of Commandant of the Command for Joint Operations was created. He also assumed the role of Commandant of the Command for Joint Operations, which is now responsible for multi-domain operations. Given the importance of the task and his new responsibilities, he has been functionally promoted to the rank and title of General (4 stars). In this role, General Portolano coordinated and directed Operation 'Aquila Omnia', which encompassed all the complex phases of the evacuation of Afghan citizens and civilian personnel from Kabul airport, in response to the deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan in August 2021.
He then served as Secretary General of Defence and National Armaments Director from 9 October 2021 to 3 October 2024.
Since 4 October 2024, General Portolano is the Chief of Defence Staff.
Education and qualifications
He attended:
- Course 161 nicknamed ‘Esempio’ (Example) at the Modena Military Academy and the School of Applied Military Studies in Turin;
- the Army Staff Course;
- the Advanced Staff Course;
- the Joint Staff College;
- the United States Army Command and Staff College in Kansas, US.
He holds:
- a Degree in strategic sciences from the School of Applied Military Studies - University of Turin;
- the Master's Degree in ‘Integrated Management and Development of Human Resources’;
- the Master's Degree in Strategic Sciences.
Summary on National Command assignments
Platoon and Company Commander, 27th Bersaglieri Battalion, ‘Ariete’ Armoured Brigade;
Commander, 67th Bersaglieri Battalion, 18th Bersaglieri Regiment, ‘Garibaldi’ Brigade;
Commander, 18th Bersaglieri Regiment, ‘Garibaldi’ Brigade;
Commander, ‘Sassari’ Mechanised Brigade
SUMMARY of Army and Joint Staff assignments
Staff Officer, Doctrine Section, Military Regulations and Policy Branch;
Staff Office, Training and Education Section, Training Branch;
Head Regulations Section, Doctrine, Training and Regulations Branch;
Head Operations Section, Force Deployment/COE Division;
Head Operations Division, Joint Operations Headquarters.
SUMMARY OF INTERNATIONAL AND/OR OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS
United Nations Mission in Iraq and Iran (United Nations IRAN - IRAQ Observation Group Mission) (1990-91);
United Nations Mission in Iraq and Kuwait (United Nations IRAQ - KUWAIT Observation Mission) (1991 - 92);
NATO Operation ‘Joint Guarantor’, in Macedonia, as Battalion Commander, in 1999;
NATO Operation ‘Joint Guardian’, in Kosovo, as Battalion Commander, in 1999;
Mission ‘Antica Babilonia 1’, in 2003, as Commander of the JTF Manoeuvre Task Force - Iraq;
Operation ISAF, in Afghanistan, as Commander of the Regional Command West in Herat, in 2011-2012;
UNIFIL, Lebanon, as Head of Mission and Commander of the UN Force, in 2014-2016
Chief of Staff and Head of the European Union Command Element at the Allied Joint Force Command - Naples in Lago Patria, from 1/9/2016 to 1/9/2019.
From 2007 to 2010, he served at the Italian Embassy in the UK, as Military Attaché also accredited for Ireland.
National and international Decorations
Officer of the Military Order of Italy;
Knight of the Military Order of Italy;
Silver Medal for Valour of the Army;
2 Gold Crosses for Army Merit (in 2006 and 2018);
Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic;
Mauritian Medal of Merit for 50 years of military career;
Gold Medal of Merit of the Italian Red Cross;
Medal of Merit for Long Command in the Army (20 years);
Defence General Staff Joint Medal of Honour;
Commemorative Cross for peacekeeping missions (3+ missions) ‘Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Lebanon’
Commemorative Cross for participation in operations to contribute to the maintenance of international security in Afghanistan;
2 NATO Medals for Meritorious Service (in 2012 and 2020);
NATO Kosovo Commemorative Medal;
NATO Commemorative Medal - Non Article 5, Afghanistan - ISAF;
UN Commemorative Medal UNIFIL Mission - Lebanon (4 turns);
UN Commemorative Medal UN Mission UNIMOG - Iraq (2 turns);
Commemorative Medal UN Mission UNIKOM - Iraq/Kuwait (2 turns);
Commemorative Medal EU ALTHEA Mission - Bosnia;
Commander of the National Order of the Cedar - Lebanon;
2 Officer of the Legion of Merit - USA (in 2014 and 2019);
Officer of the National Order of the French Legion of Honour;
Medal of Merit of the Defence of the Republic of Lithuania;
Grand Officer of the Naval Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Brazil;
Spanish cross for Naval Merit with White Decoration;
Medal for International Cooperation of the Republic of Slovenia.
Badges of Honour
Wounded in Service (Operation ‘Joint Guardian’ - Kosovo 1999)
