Brigadier General Paolo Riccò graduated from the Italian Army Academy with a Masters Degree in Strategic Science in 1989. He started his career as parachutist and was awarded the Bronze Medal for Military Value while employed as a parachutist company Commander in the UN Operation ‘Restore Hope’ in Somalia, 1993. In 1995 he was rated pilot and started his adventure in Army Aviation, subsequently commanding at the squadron, group, regiment and brigade levels. During his career, he has joined various NATO/UN operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and Afghanistan, serving in numerous positions as Commander and staff officer. He is a pilot rated on aircraft types NH-500, AB-206, AB-205 and AH-129C/D ‘Mangusta’ and has approximately 1,500 flight hours. Since the 24th of March 2017, Brigadier General Paolo Riccò has been the Commander of Italian Army Aviation.