Military Representative of Italy

Lieutenant General ITAAF
Gian Piero Ristori

2008 -

Lt. General Gian Piero RISTORI  was born on 6 May 1948 in Florence, Italy. He joined the Air Force Academy in 1966 and attended pilot training in Canada and in Italy from 1970 – 1971. He attended Staff Officer school in 1974, the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB Alabama in 1979, the Air War College in Florence in 1983 and the Defence and Resource Management Course at Monterey, California, in 1995.

General RISTORI has held a variety of command positions, such as: Commander, 352nd, 353rd and 354th Flight (Istrana AB 1973 –1975); Commander, 22nd All-Weather Flight-Interceptor Squadron (Istrana AB 1979–1980); Chief Operations Branch 51st Wing (Istrana AB 1981); 51st Wing Commander (Istrana AB ’89 – ’90); Commander, Italian Air Force NCO School (Caserta ’94 – 1998); Chief, Plans and Operations Division, Italian Defence General Staff (1996–1999); and Chief, Planning Division of the air Staff (’99); Chief of Staff, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe (1999–2003); Deputy Chief of Cabinet of Minister of Defence (2003–2006). Deputy Commander of the Schools of the Air Force (2006-2007). Director of the Air Military Personnel Employing Department (2007-2008). On 25 Jul 2008 he has been appointed as the Italian Military Representative to the NATO and EU Military Committees.

General RISTORI has received several awards and decorations. Among them are:

  • Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic;
  • Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic;
  • Long Service Cross (40 years of service);
  • Long Air Command Military Medal (10 years);
  • Medal of Merit of the Order of  Santos Dumont;
  • Grand Cross of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantine Order of Saint George;
  • Commander of the Order of the Iron Crown.

On 1 January 2005 he was promoted to his current rank. General RISTORI has 2600 flight hours mainly on fighter aircraft including the F-104 S/TF/G, AMX, MB 326, MB 339, G91T, T-RT 33, TUTOR. Is also qualified on AB 212, P-148, SIAI 204 and NH-500.