Main Infirmary, Pratica di Mare: change of command

(To air Force)
23/03/21

On the afternoon of Monday 22 March, in Pratica di Mare, the ceremony for the change of command of theMain Infirmary between Colonel Alberto Autore, outgoing commander, and Colonel Federico Cerini, incoming commander.

The head of the health service, brigadier general Giuseppe Ciniglio Appiani, and the head of the aeronautical and space experimentation division, general of the air division were also present at the event, chaired by the air squad general Giovanni Fantuzzi, head of the AM logistic command. Mauro Lunardi. The sober ceremony took place by implementing the precautionary provisions given for the emergency situation in progress.

In his farewell speech, Colonel Alberto Autore first of all thanked the guests present: gen. You fantasize for your trust and continued guidance; General Ciniglio Appiani for support, material help and professional advice; and General Lunardi for the competition of the many joints present on the grounds of Pratica Mare, thanks to which it was possible to carry out countless activities. He then gave credit to the staff of the department, placed at the center of his command action, which he constantly demonstrated "a commitment where the secret was also passion, generosity and the habit of always responding to the calls of those in need, sometimes putting family and personal life in second place".

In particular, the colonel recalled the great commitment made, since February 2020, with the transport of patients in biocontainment and with the repatriation of our compatriots from various parts of the world, carrying out a total of 2020 missions in 87, with about 448 people evacuate. The speech then concluded with the wish to the incoming commander to be able to further increase the operational capabilities and prestige of the Pratica di Mare Presidential Infirmary (IPPM).

Then the col. Federico Cerini who, in his inauguration speech, expressed great pride in acquiring the valuable post of commander of the IPPM. Addressing the staff of the department, he urged everyone to constantly maintain the awareness and responsibility of being men and women always at the forefront, both on the pandemic front and on any other front of health needs.

"The others before myself, the human resource before the material one, even a small team but with uniqueness of shared aims and objectives". With these words, the new commander wanted to underline the values ​​of harmony, solidarity and respect on which to base any future IPPM objective.

Finally, General Fantuzzi, referring to the period of command of Colonel Autore, highlighted the excellent, and at the same time complicated, work done in particular over the last year. The work of the staff of thePresidential Infirmary, a body of excellence in supporting operations beyond national borders, "it has always been characterized by the essential activities of advanced health care and aero-medical evacuation. Numerous lives have been saved thanks to the urgent or scheduled transport of patients that required a high level of bio-containment, civil and military, in every national and international territory ".

In conclusion, General Fantuzzi thanked col. Author for the excellent work done, both from the technical-health point of view and as commander, able to enhance the staff and create a serene and collaborative atmosphere, and wished col Cerini the best fortunes, certain of the human and professional qualities already demonstrated, as well as the serenity and competence with which it operates.