Giampaolo Di Paola

Giampaolo Di Paola
Minister of Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 November 2011
Prime Minister	Mario Monti
Preceded by	Ignazio La Russa
Personal details
Born	15 August 1944 (1944-08-15)
Political party	Independent
Alma mater	Nato Defence College

Admiral Giampaolo di Paola (born August 15, 1944) is an Italian naval officer who has served in the government of Italy as Minister of Defense since November 2011. He was the Italian military's Chief of Staff from March 10, 2004 to February 11, 2008 and became Chairman of the NATO Military Committee in 2008.

Military career

Di Paola joined the Italian Navy in 1963 and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1966. In 1967 he attended the Submarine School and underwent fleet training aboard submarines. He served in junior officer appointments in conventional submarines and commanded the submarines Cappellini (1974–75) and Sauro (1980–81).

In 1981 he attended the NATO Defense College in Rome. From 1981 to 1984 Di Paola served as Anti Submarine Warfare and Undersea Warfare Program Officer, Long Term Planning Branch, in the Supreme Allied Command Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. In 1984, he assumed command of the frigate Grecale. In 1986, he was appointed to the Navy Staff in Rome as Plans and Programs Branch Chief in the Directorate of Financial Planning. From 1989 to 1990, as a Captain, he commanded the aircraft carrier Garibaldi.

In 1990 he returned to the Navy Staff and was appointed as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff (1990–91), then as Chief of Naval Plans and Policy Branch (1991–92), and finally as Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations (1993–94). During this period the Italian Navy was involved in supporting NATO arms embargo operations (Operation Sharp Guard) to contain the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, and in the U.N. operation Restore Hope in Somalia.

As a Rear Admiral (lower half) he was assigned to the Defense Staff in 1994, at the Ministry of Defense. Here he became Chief of the Directorate of Defense Policy between 1994 and 1998). In this position he took an active part in the planning of the Italian contribution to the NATO effort for the stabilization of the Balkans and for the Italian-led Operation in support of Albania in 1997. As Polmil Advisor to the Minister of Defense and to the Italian Chod he was actively engaged in NATO PfP initiative and in the Mediterranean Dialogue. He was also the Italian representative to the HLG on nuclear and proliferation issues.

From 1998 to 2001, with the rank of Rear Admiral, he assumed the position of Chief of the Cabinet Office of the Ministry of Defence. On the 1st of January 1999 he was promoted Vice Admiral. In this position he took active part in supporting the political decision making for the Italian contribution to the NATO initiative in Kosovo, the NATO enlargement process and outreach policy and in the development of the ESDP and NATO-EU relationship.

In March 2001 he was appointed Secretary General of Defence / National Armaments Director. In this capacity he held national responsibility for major NATO programmes such as AGS, ALTBMD, NATO Airlift Capability, NATO SATCOM Post 2000 and MEADS. He was promoted Admiral on 10 March 2004 on becoming Chief of Defence. In this capacity he had the overall responsibility for the policy and planning of the Italian Armed Forces and - as CINCFOR – he did hold planning and command responsibility for Italian Forces participation in NATO, EU and Coalition operations conducted in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Balkans, the Mediterranean, Pakistan and in the United Nations Operation in Lebanon.

As of 27 June 2008, he is the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee.

On 16 November 2011, he was appointed to serve in Prime Minister Mario Monti's technocrat cabinet as Defence Minister.

Awards and decorations

Di Paola holds a degree in Strategic and Military Sciences and an “ad honorem” Masters degree in Sciences.

His military decorations and awards include the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy, Meritorious Service Medal for distinguished military service, Commander of Legion of Merit (USA), Commandeur de l'Ordre de la Légion d'honneur (France), Commandeur de l'Ordre National du merite (France), Grand Officer of the Order of Infante Don Enrico (Poland), Grand Officer of military virtue with war insignia (RO), UN Medal for UN Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo.

	Grand Officer of the Military Order of Italy
	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
	Maurician Medal, for 50 years military service
	Medaglia d'oro al merito di lungo comando (20+ years)
	Medal of Honour for Long-time Maritime Navigation (10 years)
	Croce d'oro per anzianità di servizio (ufficiali e sottufficiali, 40 years)
	Grand Cross with Swords of the Order pro merito Melitensi
	Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
	Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
	Commandeur of the Légion d'honneur
	Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit
	Commandeur of the Ordre national du Mérite
	Commemorative Medal of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta for Operations in the former Yugoslavia
	Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry
	United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Medal
	Distintivo d'Onore per Sommergibilisti

External links

• NATO biography

Military offices
Preceded by Rolando Mosca Moschini	Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces 2004–2008	Succeeded by Vincenzo Camporini
Preceded by Ray Henault	Chairperson of the Nato Military Committee 2008–2011	Succeeded by TBD
Political offices
Preceded by Ignazio La Russa	Italian Minister of Defence 2011–present	Incumbent