The Council of Ministers, on the proposal of Minister Guido Crosetto, has approved the nomination of General Luciano Antonio Portolano as the new Chief of the Defence Staff.
Starting next October 4th, General Portolano will take the place of Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.
Curriculum vitae
General Luciano Portolano began his career attending the 161st course at the Military Academy of Modena, and subsequently numerous other courses in Italy and abroad.
During his military life, General Portolano participated in multiple Operations and Missions that saw the Italian Armed Forces contribute to international stability, security and peace, and to protect and safeguard vital and strategic national interests.
In addition to command roles at home and in operational contexts outside national borders, there are also staff roles within the Armed Forces, Joint Forces and International Organizations.
Between 1990 and 1991, with the rank of captain, he took part in the UNIMOG mission (United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group), on the border between Iran and Iraq, created with the aim of monitoring the buffer zone and compliance with the ceasefire between the two states. In 1991, following the events of the 1st Gulf War, he was then transferred by the United Nations to the border between Iraq and Kuwait, to participate in the UNIKOM mission (United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission), established to create and monitor the demilitarized zone between the two countries, where he remained until 1992.
In 1999, with the rank of lieutenant colonel as commander of the 67th Bersaglieri Battalion, he took part in the NATO Operations “Joint Guarantor” in Macedonia, and in the Operation “Joint Guardian” in Kosovo, leading the units that constituted the Early Entry Forces of the national contingent.
In 2003, with the rank of colonel, in command of the 18th Bersaglieri Regiment, he participated in Operation “Antica Babilonia 1”, in Iraq, once again in command of the Early Entry Forces of the national device, deployed following the events connected with the 2nd Gulf War and the related resolution of the United Nations Security Council, which urged the international community to contribute to the stability and security of the Iraqi country.
As commander of the “Sassari” mechanized brigade with the rank of brigadier general, between 2011 and 2012 he was sent to Afghanistan with the large unit to assume the leadership of the multinational command RC-W (Regional Command - West) within the framework of the NATO – ISAF (International Security and Assistance Force) operation.
With the rank of major general, in 2014 he was appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, head of mission and force commander of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon, a position that will see him for 2 years leading more than 10.000 United Nations peacekeepers from 40 different countries, committed to monitoring the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel.
The experience developed in the operational field is combined with that gained in the diplomatic field, thanks to the period spent as military attaché in London, from 2007 to 2010, and as head of mission of the aforementioned UNIFIL mission, as directly responsible for mediation at a political-strategic level between the Lebanese and Israeli counterparts, in compliance with the contents of UNSC 1701.
General Portolano's professional background includes the roles of chief of staff need head of the European Union command element of the joint and multinational allied command of Lago Patria (Joint Force Command Naples), held from 2016 to 2019. The role he held allowed him to interact, in addition to the NATO leaders, with international organizations such as the European Union, with particular reference to the EU-led Operation Althea in Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the African Union, with the countries of the Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, also contributing to the birth and development of the NATO Strategic Direction South/HUB.
On 2 September 2019, General Luciano Portolano was designated as Commander of the Joint Operations Command (COI), a command responsible for the military organization and in particular for the planning, preparation and employment of the Armed Forces as a whole, in all the Theaters of Operations in which Italy was called to intervene within the framework of the Alliances and international agreements. In addition, he planned and directed the activities that the Defense implemented as part of the national response to the COVID 19 epidemiological emergency.
Starting from 26 July 2021, following the adaptation of the organizational architecture of the Defense - which took place in implementation of what was established in the Strategic Concept of the Chief of Defense Staff towards new global challenges and intended to overcome the inter-force concept to embrace that of the multi-domain - takes on the role of commander of COVI (Comando Operativo di Vertice Interforze), holding the 4th functional Star due to the importance of the assignment and by virtue of the new tasks acquired. In this role, General Portolano coordinated and directed the operation "Aquila Omnia", which involved all the delicate phases of the evacuation of fellow citizens and Afghan civilian personnel from Kabul airport, following the deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan, which occurred in August 2021.
Effective October 9, 2021, General Portolano is appointed as Secretary General of Defense and National Director of Armaments.
Education and qualifications
He attended:
• the 161st "Example" course of the Military Academy of Modena and the Application School of Turin;
• the Army general staff course;
• the higher general staff course;
• the joint general staff institute;
• the United States Army command and staff college (Kansas - USA).
He achieved:
• the degree in strategic sciences from the School of Application - University of Turin;
• the Master in “Integrated Management and Development of Human Resources”;
• the 2nd level Master's degree in strategic sciences.
Summary of National Command Assignments
Platoon and company command at the 27th Bersaglieri Battalion of the “Ariete” armored brigade;
Commander of the 67th Bersaglieri Battalion of the 18th Bersaglieri Regiment of the “Garibaldi” Brigade;
Commander of the 18th Bersaglieri Regiment of the “Garibaldi” Brigade;
Commander of the mechanized brigade "Sassari"
Summary of staff assignments in the Army and joint forces
Officer in charge of the “Doctrine” section of the Military Regulations and Policy office;
Officer in charge of the “Education and Training” section of the training office;
head of the “Regulations” section of the Doctrine, Training and Regulations office;
Head of the “Operations” office of the Employment of Forces/COE department;
Head of the Operations Department at the Joint Operations Command (COI).
Summary of international and/or operational assignments
United Nations Mission in Iraq and Iran (United Nations IRAN - IRAQ Observation Group Mission) (1990-91);
United Nations Mission in Iraq and Kuwait (United Nations IRAQ - KUWAIT Observation Mission) (1991 – 92);
NATO Operation “Joint Guarantor”, in Macedonia, as Battalion Commander, in 1999;
NATO Operation “Joint Guardian”, in Kosovo, as Battalion Commander, in 1999;
Mission “Ancient Babylon 1”, in 2003, as Commander of the JTF Maneuver Task Force – Iraq;
ISAF Operation, in Afghanistan, as Commander of the Regional Command West in Herat, in 2011-2012;
UNIFIL, Lebanon, as Head of Mission and UN Force Commander, 2014-2016
Chief of Staff and Head of the European Union Command Element at Allied Joint Force Command - Naples in Lago Patria, from 1/9/2016 to 1/9/2019.
From 2007 to 2010, he served at the Italian Embassy in the UK, as a Military Attaché also accredited for Ireland.
National and international decorations
Officer of the Military Order of Italy;
Knight of the Military Order of Italy;
Silver Medal of Army Valor;
n. 2 Gold Crosses of Merit of the Army (in 2006 and 2018);
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic;
Mauriziana Medal for merit in 10 years of military career;
Gold Medal of Merit of the Italian Red Cross;
Medal of Merit for Long Command in the Army (20 years);
Joint Chiefs of Staff Medal of Honor;
Commemorative cross for peacekeeping missions (over 3 missions) “Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Lebanon”;
Commemorative cross for participation in operations to help maintain international security in Afghanistan;
n. 2 NATO Medals for Meritorious Service (in 2012 and 2020);
NATO Kosovo Commemorative Medal;
NATO Commemorative Medal – Non Article 5, Afghanistan – ISAF;
UN Commemorative Medal UNIFIL Mission – Lebanon (4 rounds);
UN Commemorative Medal UNIMOG Mission – Iraq (2 rounds);
UN Commemorative Medal UNIKOM Mission – Iraq/Kuwait (2 rounds);
EU Commemorative Medal ALTHEA Mission – Bosnia;
Commander of the National Order of the Cedar – Lebanon;
n. 2 Officer of the Legion of Merit – USA (in 2014 and 2019);
Officer of the National Order of the French Legion of Honor;
Medal of Merit for the Defence of the Republic of Lithuania;
Grand Officer of the Order of Naval Merit of the Federal Republic of Brazil;
Naval Merit Cross with Spanish White Decoration;
Medal for International Cooperation of the Republic of Slovenia.
Badges of Honor
Wounded in Service (Operation “Joint Guardian” – Kosovo 1999)
