The handover ceremony of the command of the 1st reception and sorting group between Lieutenant Colonel Andrea Bovone, outgoing commander, and Major Luca Picconi, incoming.
The event, chaired by the commander of the technical supply center of Fiumicino, Colonel Gaetano Fusco, enjoyed the participation of the prefect of Novara, Dr. Francesco Garsia, numerous religious, civil and military authorities, as well as the combat and military associations and representatives of the local aeronautical industry.
The lieutenant with the. Bovone, in his farewell speech, addressed words of thanks to the women and men of the group for the support received during the period of command. “Today more than ever, thanks to a recognized credibility, the 1st reception and sorting group is a national point of reference in the transport and customs sector, a certainty in terms of operational expression and experiential values made available to the defense sector. Together – continued the officer, taking stock of the results achieved in his four years of command – we have achieved extraordinary goals, from participating in operations aimed at combating the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, to the most challenging and innovative activities such as the release of the AEO - Authorized Economic certification in favor of the 1st GRS, the first public body in Europe Operator by the Excise, Customs and Monopolies Agency, up to the Solemn Commendation paid by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.”
Words of sincere gratitude were then addressed by Major Picconi in his speech to the superior authorities for having been designated as the new commander: “Today I have the honor of taking on a prestigious role, the command of a department of excellence and in excellent health. I have already had the fortune of appreciating your moral, human and professional qualities – he concluded by directly addressing the military and civilian personnel of the group – I am certain that I will never be left alone, that all of you will always be ready to offer me your effective collaboration."
At the end of the ceremony, in speaking, the commander of the technical supply center, Colonel Fusco, expressed words of great satisfaction for what was done during the period of command by Lieutenant Colonel Bovone “for having been able to operate by exploiting the limited human and material resources available with acumen and sagacity, effectively distributing the workloads of the different areas of expertise, managing to put the employees in a position to operate well and allowing them to best express their own professional potential. Under the leadership of t.col. Bovone, the 1st reception and sorting group has proven to be an even more solid logistics reality, a department of excellence of which both the Armed Forces and the support service and the technical supply center are proud today."
Il 1st reception and sorting group of Novara, is included in the support services system of the logistics command, reporting directly to the CTR of Fiumicino. The group manages the movement into and/or out of national borders of weapon system cells, spare parts, materials and means of logistical support, essential for the support of the Air Force both in Italy and abroad favor of exercises, humanitarian missions, community support. The direct or delegated representations of the English Royal Air Force, the German Luftwaffe and the Spanish Air Force operate within the group, supporting activities relating to the "Tornado" and "Typhoon" programmes. Furthermore, the group guarantees the import/nationalization activities of materials for the production line Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) and the Maintenance Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) at the Cameri base for the F-35 “Lightning II” weapon system.
