(by Andrea Pinto) Finally "white smoke", the Admiral of the Naval Squad, Giuseppe Cavo Dragone next June 21 will be the new Chief of Staff of the Navy. An Ansa agency has just been beaten that reports on the pending and hard-fought appointment. The news coming from the Council of Ministers was not so explicit, so much so that it was believed that even this time the long-awaited name did not come out.
The suitors this time were many and all of the highest level. The favorite, initially, was Admiral Carlo Massagli, military adviser to the Prime Minister, also very welcome to the deputy premier Matteo Salvini. The Minister of Defense, Elisabetta Trenta, however, had vehemently proposed Admiral Paolo Treu, current naval chief of staff. PRP Channel (New Chief of the Navy, between the two suitors there are Giacomin and Cavo Dragone) days ago, after the indiscretions made by Chiara Giannini in the "Giornale" on the high tension among the members of the Government precisely for this appointment, the young 58-year-old admiral Dario Giacomin and the 62-year-old Admiral had announced the probable candidates Giuseppe Cavo Dragone. In the end the choice fell on the Squad Admiral, Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Commander of the IOC - Joint Operations Summit Command. The Italian sailors can finally celebrate their new boss.
Thus the Minister of Defense, Elisabetta Trenta: "Congratulations to Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, the new Chief of Staff of the Navy. In his long career he has held prestigious positions showing very high professionalism and human qualities, combined with a deep knowledge of the Armed Forces which he will take the lead from tomorrow. Intellectual and moral abilities that in the last three years have put at the service of the Interforce Operations Operational Command, effectively managing the growing national military commitment in support of peace, security and international stability.
I address my most heartfelt thanks to Admiral Valter Girardelli: an intact and courageous Commander who, with his effective directive action, has combined operation and innovation of the Navy, present in all the seas of the world, from the Mediterranean to the oceans, from the Arctic to the 'Antarctica, to protect national interests. I renew the appreciation and thanks of the Government for all that it has given to the Navy and the State in its long years of exemplary military life.
As the President of the Republic said on the occasion of the Navy Festival "Sailors are a precious heritage of people committed to protecting the freedom and security of our country, present in times of need, also in support of the civilian population".
Values that Admiral Girardelli has embodied in these years and that from tomorrow the Admiral Cavo Dragone will vigorously support.
Good wind!
In a press release also the greetings of the General Enzo VECCIARELLI, Chief of Defense Staff: "On behalf of myself and all the military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces, I wish to express my warmest congratulations to Team Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone for his appointment as Chief of Staff of the Navy ". With these words, General VECCIARELLI, wished to greet the decision made late yesterday by the Council of Ministers for the designation of the new summit of the Navy. Gen. VECCIARELLI then concluded with a "heartfelt and moved thanks to Team Admiral Valter GIRARDELLI for the service provided in his brilliant and clear career".
Team Admiral Giuseppe CAVO DRAGONE the 28 February 1957 was born in Arquata Scrivia (AL).
After completing his classical high school diploma at the Andrea Doria Institute in Novi Ligure, he entered the Naval Academy in October of the 1976 to attend the Normal Course for Staff Officers. In June, 1980 ended the academic period and, after a brief period on board the ORSA Frigate, was sent to the US Navy flight schools in Florida and Texas where, after about a year, it obtained the pilot license for fixed-wing aircraft ( propeller multi-motors) and, after a further six months, that of a helicopter pilot.
Returning to Italy in September, 1981 was embarked as a helicopter pilot on the ARDITO Destroyer on the occasion of the use of the MMI units in the waters of Lebanon. At the end of this activity, Cavo Dragone remained on board frigates of the MAESTRALE class as helicopter pilot holding the position of Head of Flight Service until August of 1987, when he assumed the Command, in the rank of Lieutenant of Vascello, del Cacciamine MILAZZO with which, from September '87 to March' 88, participated in the first mission in the Persian Gulf.
At the end of the Command period he was transferred to the Helicopters Station of Luni (SP) for the transition on the SH 3D helicopter. After a short time, with the approval of the law that allowed the Navy to acquire its own combat aircraft to be loaded on the Portaeromobili GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI, Cavo Dragone was sent back to the United States to obtain the patent on boarded conventional fighters, make the transition on the aircraft AV8-B vertical take-off and landing (HARRIER), obtaining the “ready to fight” qualification at the operational squads of the US Marine Corps, commanding the first group of Italian Pilots and Technicians in training in the USA for the newly-formed aircraft component of the Navy. During this period, he obtained the qualification for jet aircraft carrier aircraft in January 1990 in Florida and the jet pilot license in Mississippi in August 1990.
After the delivery of the first two HARRIER aircraft for the Navy in May 1991 in North Carolina (USA), Cavo Dragone, with his team, prepared the return to Italy of the component that was taken from Nave GARIBALDI in US waters in September of the same year. He was the first Commander of the AEREI GROUP BOATS (September 1991 - September 1993). For a further year he was again sent to Arizona to perform specific training on a HARRIER model for night combat and on the version of the combat radar aircraft. Upon returning from the United States, he was assigned to the Head of the Naval Squadron, where he held the post of Operations and Training Officer of the embarked air component.
After about a year he attended the War School (Maritime War Institute) in Livorno and the Inter-agency Institute of Staff in Rome. In September 1996, with the rank of Frigate Captain, was assigned the Command of the EURO Frigate, based in Taranto. After a year, Cavo Dragone returned to command the Aircraft Group embarked in Grottaglie (TA). He has over 2.500 flying hours between helicopters and combat jets.
From the 27 September 2002 to the 16 October 2004 was the aircraft carrier commander GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI.
In the period between 13 December 2004 and 24 June 2005 attended the 56 ^ session of the Institute of Higher Defense Studies. He obtained a degree in Defense and Security Science in December 2002 at the University of Pisa and a degree in Political Science in October 2005 at the University of Trieste.
From 27 October 2005 to 5 September 2008 held the position of Commander of the Navy Air Forces and Head of the 6 Aircraft Department of the Navy General Staff.
From the 11 September 2008 to the 12 October 2011 was the Commander of the Diving and Rafting Group of the Navy.
From 13 October 2011 to 17 October 2014 held the position of Commander of the Naval Academy.
From 3 November 2014 to 26 June 2016 held the position of Commander of the Joint Force Command for Special Forces operations.
Since 1, in July, 2016 has assumed the position of Commander of the Interforce Joint Operational Command.
Since September of the 2002, with only one brief interruption of six months for attending the 56 ^ session of the IASD, it is at the Command of operational and top management of the Navy and Joint Forces, thus boasting a continuous period of over three decades.