Italian Government
Deputy Chief of Defence Staff
Lt.Gen. Luigi DEL BENE was born in Sansepolcro (Arezzo) on 27 August 1967. He attended the Regular Courses of the Air Force Academy, which he joined from 1986 to 1990 with the "Falco IV" Course, and where he obtained his Military Pilot's Certification and badge and a Degree in Aeronautical Science from the University of Naples Federico II.
From May 1990 to June 1991, he attended the Military Pilot Course, obtaining his licence on T-37 and T-38 aircraft at the Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) at Sheppard AFB in Texas, US.
After qualifying on the F-104 aircraft at the 20th Flying Group of the 4th Grosseto Wing, he was assigned to the 5th Rimini Wing, at the 102nd Flying Group in October 1991. Having qualified as a Forward Air Controller at the Fustenfeldbruck aviation school (Germany) and completed his transition to the A-200 aircraft at the Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment in Cottesmore, UK, he was reassigned to the 6th Wing in Ghedi (Brescia) in September 1993, where he carried out various tasks.
From July 1995 to March 1996, he held the positions of Instructor and Commander of the Pegaso IV Course at the Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli (Naples). After attending the Pilot Instructor Training (PIT) course, he was assigned to ENJJPT at Sheppard AFB in September 1997, where he served as Instructor, Examiner and Controller.
Returning to Italy in September 2000, he was assigned to the 212th Flying Group of the 61st Wing in Galatina (Lecce), serving as Operations Section Chief and Group Commander from September 2001 to March 2004, and as Operations Office Chief from June 2004 until September 2005.
In September 2005, following his reassignment to the 3rd Division of the Defence Staff, he was initially appointed Section Chief, National Force Planning, and then Deputy Head, General Planning Branch, and finally Head of Concept Development Branch, Defence Innovation Centre, Military Policy and Planning Division, Defence General Staff, from September 2008 to August 2011.
From September 2011 to July 2013, he was the Commanding Officer, 6th Wing at Ghedi (Brescia).
In July 2013, he was assigned to the Aerospace Force Planning Division at the Air Staff, where he initially held the position of Head of the General Planning and Transformation, and then those of Deputy Head of Division and Head of Division.
From August 2019 to July 2022, he served as Head of Operations Division of the Italian Command for Joint Operations (CJO).
Reassigned to Milan in July 2022, he first became Combat Force Commander and Deputy Commander, 1st Air Region. Later, from May 2024 until September 2024, he served as Commander, 1st Air Region. Following the reorganisation within the Air Force, he served as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Air Fleet Command/1st Air Region from October 2024 to June 2025.
In June 2025, Lt.Gen. DEL BENE has been appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Staff.
Gen. DEL BENE attended the 60th Staff Course and the 3rd Command Course at the Florence Air Warfare School, the Joint Staff College in Norfolk, US, and the Defense Resources Management Course at the DRMI in Monterrey, US.
He was promoted to Lieutenant General on 1 January 2024.
Lt.Gen. DEL BENE has accumulated over 3,500 flight hours on different fighter and training aircraft such as SF-260, T-37, T-38, F-104G and ASA, Tornado, MB-339A, MB-339CD, T-346 and F-2000.
He is the recipient of the following honours and commendations:
Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Knight of the National Order of Merit of the French Republic, Gold Cross of Seniority (25 years), Gold Medal for Long Air Navigation, Gold Medal of Merit for Long Command, Mauritian Medal, US Meritorious Service Medal, US Commendation Medal (1st Cluster), NATO OUP Medal, Commander of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.
Gen. DEL BENE is married to Mrs Francesca Del Gaia and together they have four daughters (Sofia, Eleonora, Elisa and Alice).
Deputy Chief of Defence Staff
Lt.Gen. Luigi DEL BENE was born in Sansepolcro (Arezzo) on 27 August 1967. He attended the Regular Courses of the Air Force Academy, which he joined from 1986 to 1990 with the "Falco IV" Course, and where he obtained his Military Pilot's Certification and badge and a Degree in Aeronautical Science from the University of Naples Federico II.
From May 1990 to June 1991, he attended the Military Pilot Course, obtaining his licence on T-37 and T-38 aircraft at the Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) at Sheppard AFB in Texas, US.
After qualifying on the F-104 aircraft at the 20th Flying Group of the 4th Grosseto Wing, he was assigned to the 5th Rimini Wing, at the 102nd Flying Group in October 1991. Having qualified as a Forward Air Controller at the Fustenfeldbruck aviation school (Germany) and completed his transition to the A-200 aircraft at the Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment in Cottesmore, UK, he was reassigned to the 6th Wing in Ghedi (Brescia) in September 1993, where he carried out various tasks.
From July 1995 to March 1996, he held the positions of Instructor and Commander of the Pegaso IV Course at the Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli (Naples). After attending the Pilot Instructor Training (PIT) course, he was assigned to ENJJPT at Sheppard AFB in September 1997, where he served as Instructor, Examiner and Controller.
Returning to Italy in September 2000, he was assigned to the 212th Flying Group of the 61st Wing in Galatina (Lecce), serving as Operations Section Chief and Group Commander from September 2001 to March 2004, and as Operations Office Chief from June 2004 until September 2005.
In September 2005, following his reassignment to the 3rd Division of the Defence Staff, he was initially appointed Section Chief, National Force Planning, and then Deputy Head, General Planning Branch, and finally Head of Concept Development Branch, Defence Innovation Centre, Military Policy and Planning Division, Defence General Staff, from September 2008 to August 2011.
From September 2011 to July 2013, he was the Commanding Officer, 6th Wing at Ghedi (Brescia).
In July 2013, he was assigned to the Aerospace Force Planning Division at the Air Staff, where he initially held the position of Head of the General Planning and Transformation, and then those of Deputy Head of Division and Head of Division.
From August 2019 to July 2022, he served as Head of Operations Division of the Italian Command for Joint Operations (CJO).
Reassigned to Milan in July 2022, he first became Combat Force Commander and Deputy Commander, 1st Air Region. Later, from May 2024 until September 2024, he served as Commander, 1st Air Region. Following the reorganisation within the Air Force, he served as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Air Fleet Command/1st Air Region from October 2024 to June 2025.
In June 2025, Lt.Gen. DEL BENE has been appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Staff.
Gen. DEL BENE attended the 60th Staff Course and the 3rd Command Course at the Florence Air Warfare School, the Joint Staff College in Norfolk, US, and the Defense Resources Management Course at the DRMI in Monterrey, US.
He was promoted to Lieutenant General on 1 January 2024.
Lt.Gen. DEL BENE has accumulated over 3,500 flight hours on different fighter and training aircraft such as SF-260, T-37, T-38, F-104G and ASA, Tornado, MB-339A, MB-339CD, T-346 and F-2000.
He is the recipient of the following honours and commendations:
Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Knight of the National Order of Merit of the French Republic, Gold Cross of Seniority (25 years), Gold Medal for Long Air Navigation, Gold Medal of Merit for Long Command, Mauritian Medal, US Meritorious Service Medal, US Commendation Medal (1st Cluster), NATO OUP Medal, Commander of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.
Gen. DEL BENE is married to Mrs Francesca Del Gaia and together they have four daughters (Sofia, Eleonora, Elisa and Alice).
