General, Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Since 31st of October 2021 Lt. Gen. Luca GORETTI is the Italian Air Force Chief of Staff. He serves as the senior uniformed Air Force Officer responsible for the organisation, training and equipment of 44000 active
duty men and women serving in Italy and overseas. In accordance with the directives of the Chief of Defense
Staff, he is responsible for the preparation and deployment of the national airspace defense system and, for this purpose; he coordinates the deployment of all the means involved in the defense of national airspace.
Lt. Gen. Luca GORETTI was commissioned in 1980 and attended the Italian Air Force Academy, and in 1985 he graduated as a Military Pilot at the Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) at Sheppard AFB (Texas – USA), flying the T-38 jet trainer.
Following his assignment on the Tornado at Cottesmore AFB (UK), he has served in a variety of position at the squadron and wing levels, taking part to the initial phase of Persian Gulf operations and within the framework of NATO air campaign in the former Yugoslavia. Tornado Flight Instructor, he took in major national and international exercises such as Red Flag, Maple Flag Goose Bay and TLP. Lt. Gen. GORETTI has commanded 156th Fighter Squadron and 32nd Fighter Wing.
His notable staff tours include Head of the Prevention Office of the Flight Safety Inspectorate and Director of Flight Safety magazine; Chief of Planning & Transformation Office within ItAF Staff, Deputy Chief of the Defense Planning, Programming and Budget General Office and Deputy Chief of the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense. He also served as Defense and Defense Cooperation Attaché accredited to the USA, Canada and Mexico at the Italian Embassy in Washington DC and as Italian Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff.
EDUCATION
1980 Joined the Italian Air Force Academy
1984 Bachelor’ degree in “Aeronautical Science” at the University of Studies
“Federico II” in Naples.
1985 Graduated as a Military Pilot ENJJPT at Sheppard AFB (Texas – USA)
1986 Tornado Flying Training School – TTTE Cottesmore (RAF)
1991 Air War College Basic Course at Italian Warfare College in Firenze
1992 Flight Safety Officer Course – USA
1993 Tactical Leadership Programme – Florennes AB
1993 Tornado Flight Instructor Course – Cottesmore (RAF)
1997 Air War College Advanced Course at Italian Warfare College in Firenze.
1998 Joint War College at the Higher Defense Studies Center in Rome
2002 Human Factors Aviation Safety Course – University of Southern California
2005 PHD in “Political Sciences” at the University of Trieste’s Studies in Trieste
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Flight Hours: more than 3000 flying hours, including over 2000 on the Tornado and
more than 100 combat hours.
Aircraft flown: SF-260, T37, T38, G91T, PA200, AMX-T, AMX, NH500, HH139.
ASSIGNMENTS
1988 Commander of 383rd Unit – Gioia del Colle AFB
1995 Commander 156th Squadron Detachment – RAMI Goose Bay Cold Lake
1997 Commander 156th Squadron – 36th Fighter Wing – Gioia del Colle AFB
2000 Commander the 2nd Autonomous Operational Wing at Pristina Slatina
Airport (Kosovo) and Chief of Air Movement within NATO/KFOR in
accordance with the 1999 Helsinki agreements between NATO and Russia
2003 Head of the Prevention Office of the Flight Safety Inspectorate, as well as
Director of the Flight Safety magazine
2003 Commander of 32nd Wing – Amendola Air Force Base
2005 Chief of the Planning & Transformation Office of Aerospace Policy and
Planning Division at Italian Air Force Staff
2008 Deputy Chief of the Defense, Planning, Programming and Budget General
Office the Italian Defense Staff Headquarters
2010 Deputy Chief of the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense
2015 Italian Defense and Defense Cooperation Attaché, accredited to the USA,
Canada and Mexico at the Italian Embassy in Washington DC
2015 Italian Military Permanent observer at the Interamerican Board (IAB) in
Washington DC
2019 Italian Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGMENTS
2008 Deputy Chief of the Planning, Programming and Defense Balance General
Office – Italian Defense Staff Headquarters.
2010 Deputy Chief of the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense.
2015 Italian Defense and Defense Cooperation Attaché, accredited to the USA,
Canada and Mexico at the Italian Embassy in Washington DC.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Lt.Gen.GORETTI is married to Mrs Lorena.
