Claudio Graziano

Claudio Graziano ( born November 22, 1953 in Turin) is currently chief of staff of the Italian army. He commanded from February 2007 to January 2010 the UNIFIL peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

Military career

Graziano was educated at the Military Academy in Modena and Turin, serving from 1976 first as a platoon leader and company commander in the Alpini. He graduated from the Leadership Academy of the Army and Armed Forces ( CASD ) and the United States Army War College in Carlisle.

He became commander of the Alpini Battalion Susa, at the head he took part in a mission in Mozambique under the ONUMOZ 1992. In the years after Graziano served at various bars and an Italian military attaché in Washington, DC From 2004 to 2006 he was commander of the Alpini Brigade Taurinense in Turin. With his staff, he led from July 2005 to February 2006 as part of ISAF VIII, the Kabul Multinational Brigade ( KMNB VIII, Regional Command Capital) in the Afghan capital. During this time the Taurinense served under the leadership of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy there as a force provider ( framework brigade ), in the 22 contingents of other states were integrated.

In March 2006, Claudio Graziano as Major General Chief of Operations in the Italian Operations Command (COI ) in Rome Cento Celle. On 2 February 2007, he took over from the French General Alain Pellegrini command of the substantially increased and provided with an expanded mandate UNIFIL force in Lebanon. On 28 January 2010 Graziano handed the UNIFIL command to the Spanish General Alberto Asarta, only to be Private Secretary to the Minister of Defence as Lieutenant General in Rome.

Claudio Graziano took over on December 6, 2011 by General Giuseppe Valotto the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army.