From the Gulf War to Lebanon, General Portolano new Chief of Defence Staff: here is who he is

With the rank of General of Division, in 2014, he was appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Head of Mission and Force Commander of the Unifil mission in Lebanon, a post that will see him for two years at the head of more than 10,000 UN blue helmets from 40 different countries, engaged in 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 a Military Attaché in London, from 2007 to 2010, and as Head of Mission of Unifil, as the person directly responsible for mediation at the political-strategic level between the Lebanese and Israeli counterparts, in compliance with the contents of UNSC 1701.

General Portolano's professional background includes the positions of Chief of Staff and Head of the European Union Command Element of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples, held from 2016 to 2019. The role he held allowed him to interact, in addition to the NATO leadership, with international bodies such as the European Union, with particular reference to the EU-led Operation Althea in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the African Union, the Mediterranean Dialogue countries and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, also contributing to the birth and development of the NATO Strategic Direction South/HUB.

On 2 September 2019, Portolano was designated as Commander of the Inter-Forces Operational Summit Command (COI), a Command responsible for the military organisation and in particular for the planning, readiness and deployment of the Armed Forces as a whole, in all operational theatres in which Italy has been called upon to intervene within the framework of international alliances and agreements.

In addition to this, he planned and directed the activities that Defence deployed as part of the national response to the COVID 19 epidemiological emergency. As of 26 July 2021, following the adjustment of Defence's organisational architecture - which took place in implementation of what was established in the Strategic Concept of the Chief of Defence Staff in view of the new global challenges and intended to go beyond the inter-force concept to embrace that of multi-domain - he took on the position of Commander of COVI (Inter-Forces Summit Operations Command), holding the 4th Functional Star due to the importance of the assignment and by virtue of the new duties acquired. In this role, Portolano coordinated and directed Operation "Aquila Omnia", which covered 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 in August 2021. As of 9 October 2021, General Portolano is appointed as Secretary General of Defence and National Armaments Director.

"General Luciano Portolano has a very high professional profile, with a vast operational and command experience, which includes very delicate and first-rate assignments in the national and international field, and will be called upon to manage the Armed Forces at a time of great complexity and profound renewal, made even more critical by the current crises. Thanks to his skills, abilities and experience, I am certain that he will be able to interpret his delicate functions in the best possible way, working every day to guarantee the country Armed Forces ready to operate in any context, to defend national interests and to bring peace where it is at risk. Good work General Portolano'. This is how Defence Minister Guido Crosetto commented on the appointment of the new Chief of Defence Staff. "I thank Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone for what he has done as Chief of Defence Staff and as a servant of the Institutions during his long military career," he added. "His work and professionalism have enhanced the prestige and honour of the Armed Forces and of the country. I wish him the best of luck, certain that, even in his future role as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, he will be able to make a positive impact and demonstrate his qualities and leadership".