Gen. B. (EI), Space Operations Command (COS)

Brigadier General Luca MONACO was born in Telese Terme (BN) on November 30, 1970.

He attended the Army Academy of Modena from 1989 to 1991 and the Scuola di Applicazione d’Arma for Officers of the Italian Army in Turin from 1991 to 1994. At the end of the training process, he was posted to the 2nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (AD) in Ravenna and subsequently at the Anti-Aircraft Artillery School in Sabaudia, where he held numerous positions including Commander of the HAWK missile battery and Head of the Verification and Validation Section for Air Defense units.

In 2003, at the end of the Army General Staff Course in Turin, he was assigned to the Italian Army General Staff. Here he held the position of Chief of the Transformation Section of the Department for the Earth Transformation. In the latter capacity, he contributed to the start of the “Forza NEC” project aimed at the modernization of the Army’s Brigade and Division-level Units.

From 2010 to 2012, he attended the Senior Staff Course at the Führungsakademie of the Bundeswehr in Hamburg (Germany), at the end of which he was posted, until October 2012, at the Italian Defense General Staff where he held the position of Officer in Charge and Head of NATO Section of the Office for Policy of the Alliances.

From October 2012 to October 2013, he commanded the battalion within the 235th Regiment “Piceno”, a volunteer training unit based in Ascoli Piceno. Following his deployment, once again was posted to the III Department of the Italian Defense General Staff, with the role of Head of NATO Section.

From October 2015 to October 2016, he assumed the position of Commander of the 17th Regiment
Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AD) “Sforzesca” SHORAD and V / SHORAD. From 2016 to 2018, he went on to serve in the CHOD’s cabinet within the Italian Defense General Staff, as Head of Studies Office and in the Army General Staff, in the Logistics Department, as Head of the Transformation Office.

From 2020 to 2022, he assumed the duties as Chief of Staff of the Space Operations Command. Since May 2022, he is in charge as Commander of the Space Operations Command. Brigadier General MONACO has a degree in Political Sciences with a political-economic focus from the University of Turin and a second Level Master degree in Strategic Sciences, from the University of Turin and a degree in International and Diplomatic Sciences from the University of Trieste.

He has attended many training courses both in Italy and abroad, in NATO context. He has a military paratrooper brevet and is qualified as military driving teacher.
He is married and has two daughters.