Last Thursday the handover took place at the top of the Air Operations Command (COA) between Air Force General Roberto Nordio and Air Division General Giovanni Fantuzzi.
The turnover, chaired by the commander of the air squad, air squad general Maurizio Lodovisi, took place in the presence of numerous civil, military and religious authorities as well as the banner of the city of Ferrara, decorated with a silver medal for military valor, banners of the Emilia Romagna region, of the municipalities of Poggio Renatico, Bondeno, Cento, Mirabello, Vigarano Mainarda and of the Labari of fighting and weapon associations.
General Nordio, who leaves office after two years, during his speech defined the time spent at the AOC as one of the most intense and fascinating of his professional life, expressing sincere gratitude to the city of Ferrara for the warm welcome and for the relations always marked by collaboration and friendship. He then turned to the men and women of the department thanking them "for having served the Air Operations Command and the armed force with dedication, passion, professionalism and competence ". The general wanted to conclude with a reflection addressed to all the staff and also to himself: “we must never be satisfied, everything can and must be improved, we continue to look forward, seeking with a spirit of collaboration and teamwork the way to further improve the our Armed Forces. "
For the new commander of the AOC begins a “new command experience in the operational sector of command and control, of particular value and importance for our armed force ". Also General Fantuzzi, in his speech, wanted to address words of appreciation to the staff of the AOC, "for the capacities amply demonstrated not only in the performance of the important daily activity, but also in the military operations carried out in the recent past in many operational scenarios." Finally, the new commander wanted to greet and thank all those present: General Lodovisi for the trust given to him, the battles and the combative and weapon associations for the strong bond with theBlue Weapon, the former commanders of the Air Force Operational Command who, with their presence, seal affection and profound consideration towards the ward, the cities of Ferrara and Poggio Renatico for mutual collaboration in the territory and, not least, his wife Ornella who “continues to be by my side and to support me in every challenge that life and the Air Force offer me ”. He concluded his speech by addressing an affectionate greeting to all the staff for a fruitful work together, under the aegis of the Virgin of Loreto.
General Lodovisi then concluded the series of interventions, pointing out the central role of the AOC within the Air Force Command and armed force, expressing great satisfaction with the results obtained both nationally and internationally and emphasizing how, with much less resources than in the past, the Air Force is able to tackle all its tasks with greater efficiency, effectiveness and determination. The rationalization of resources, the investment in human resources, ethics and the spirit of service means that our work is capitalized to the best for the collective good. Reorganizations and cost cuts have not affected the quality of the services that the Arma Aeronautica can express ”. Turning then to the staff of the AOC, the general said he was "proud, because he did well what I asked him to do, at a time when I asked a lot."
