Governo Italiano
National Armaments Director
Vice-Admiral Giacinto OTTAVIANI
He was born in San Benedetto del Tronto on 19 July 1964.
He attended the Naval Academy from 1983 to 1987.
MAIN OPERATIONAL TOURS
- As Navigation and Telecommunications Officer aboard the Frigate EURO, he took part in Operation Persian Gulf (national naval protection in the Iran-Iraq war) from July to December 1988.
- As Commander of the patrol vessel CASSIOPEA (1994-1995), he conducted numerous fishery surveillance operations in the Sicilian Channel.
- As Executive Officer aboard the Frigate AVIERE (2003-2004), he was engaged in two activities within NATO Operation Active Endeavour (countering trafficking and international terrorism) as part of NATO naval assets in the Mediterranean.
- As Commander of the Frigate ESPERO (2004-2005), he participated in two further activities within NATO Operation Active Endeavour (countering trafficking and illegal immigration).
- As Commander of the destroyer ANDREA DORIA (2009-2010), he led Operation TUCANO (promotion of the national naval industry and combating piracy) in South America and the Gulf of Guinea.
MAIN ASSIGNEMENTS ASHORE
Employed in central bodies, mainly in the personnel sector.
In particular, he served as:
- Head of the Officers' Management Division, Italian Navy Personnel Directorate (2014-2016).
- Head of the Personnel Division, Italian Navy Staff (2016-2018).
- Head of the Personnel Division, Italian Defence General Staff (2018-2021).
- President of the Centre for Higher Defence Studies – Graduate School (2021-2024).
- Head of the Defence Cyber Training Centre (2021-2024).
- Editor-in-Chief of the Strategic Leadership Journal (2022-2024).
- Co-Director of the International School of Science Diplomacy - 'Ettore Majorana' Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture in Erice (Trapani) (2023-2024).
- Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (2024-2025).
- Since 4 June 2025, he has held the position of National Armaments Director.
EDUCATION
- Diploma from the Joint Forces Staff College (2002) and from the Institute for Higher Defence Studies (2014).
- Degree in Physics from the University of Parma (1994).
- Master's degree in Business Administration from Boston University (2002).
- 2nd level Master's degree in Global Strategy and Security from the University of Rome La Sapienza (2014).
National Armaments Director
Vice-Admiral Giacinto OTTAVIANI
He was born in San Benedetto del Tronto on 19 July 1964.
He attended the Naval Academy from 1983 to 1987.
MAIN OPERATIONAL TOURS
- As Navigation and Telecommunications Officer aboard the Frigate EURO, he took part in Operation Persian Gulf (national naval protection in the Iran-Iraq war) from July to December 1988.
- As Commander of the patrol vessel CASSIOPEA (1994-1995), he conducted numerous fishery surveillance operations in the Sicilian Channel.
- As Executive Officer aboard the Frigate AVIERE (2003-2004), he was engaged in two activities within NATO Operation Active Endeavour (countering trafficking and international terrorism) as part of NATO naval assets in the Mediterranean.
- As Commander of the Frigate ESPERO (2004-2005), he participated in two further activities within NATO Operation Active Endeavour (countering trafficking and illegal immigration).
- As Commander of the destroyer ANDREA DORIA (2009-2010), he led Operation TUCANO (promotion of the national naval industry and combating piracy) in South America and the Gulf of Guinea.
MAIN ASSIGNEMENTS ASHORE
Employed in central bodies, mainly in the personnel sector.
In particular, he served as:
- Head of the Officers' Management Division, Italian Navy Personnel Directorate (2014-2016).
- Head of the Personnel Division, Italian Navy Staff (2016-2018).
- Head of the Personnel Division, Italian Defence General Staff (2018-2021).
- President of the Centre for Higher Defence Studies – Graduate School (2021-2024).
- Head of the Defence Cyber Training Centre (2021-2024).
- Editor-in-Chief of the Strategic Leadership Journal (2022-2024).
- Co-Director of the International School of Science Diplomacy - 'Ettore Majorana' Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture in Erice (Trapani) (2023-2024).
- Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (2024-2025).
- Since 4 June 2025, he has held the position of National Armaments Director.
EDUCATION
- Diploma from the Joint Forces Staff College (2002) and from the Institute for Higher Defence Studies (2014).
- Degree in Physics from the University of Parma (1994).
- Master's degree in Business Administration from Boston University (2002).
- 2nd level Master's degree in Global Strategy and Security from the University of Rome La Sapienza (2014).
