Brigadier General Diego Sismondini

Deputy Commander, 1st Aviation Brigade for Special Operations Italian Air Force

General Sismondini entered the Air Force Academy, in August 1991, as part of the Nibbio 4th academic course. Upon completing his studies and earning the rank of Second Lieutenant, in 1995, he was sent to flight schools in the United States, where he obtained his Military Pilot License on the T-38A Talon aircraft.

Upon returning to Italy, he completed his helicopter qualification at the 72nd Wing in Frosinone and was subsequently assigned to the 15th Wing – 85th Combat SAR Group at Pratica di Mare in 1997, where he became Combat Ready on the HH-3F helicopter.

In 1999, he operated the HH-3F helicopter in Kosovo and Albania as part of NATO operations in the former Yugoslavia and was later sent to Bosnia under the SFOR operation in Sarajevo.

Promoted to Captain, in 2003 and subsequent years, he served in five rotations in Iraq under Operation Ancient Babylon, a UN-mandated mission, operating the HH-3F helicopter. After obtaining his Instructor qualification, he assumed command of the 85th C/SAR Group in 2008 with the rank of Major. Two years later, as a Lieutenant Colonel, he was assigned to the 4th Department of the Air Staff. In 2013, he was appointed to the Communication Office of the Chief of Defense Staff, and upon his promotion to Colonel in 2016, he became the head of the office. For this role, he was awarded a Solemn Commendation by the Chief of Defense Staff, General Claudio Graziano.

In 2018, he was reassigned to the 15th Wing as Commander. During this period, the unit was heavily involved in Biocontainment transport operations during the COVID-19 emergency. The 15th Wing was responsible for transporting COVID-19 patients on advanced HH-101 Caesar helicopters using specialized stretchers to relieve hospitals in Northern Italy. For these operations, Colonel Sismondini received a Solemn Commendation from the Commander of the Air Squadron and was later awarded the Bronze Medal of Aeronautical Valor by the Chief of the Air Staff, on the recommendation of the Minister of Defense, Hon. Guerini.

In 2020, General Sismondini was again assigned to the Air Staff - 5th Communication Department, where he served until July 2023, when he was appointed to the 1st Special Operations Air Brigade in Furbara as Head of the Force Preparation Office, a position he currently holds.

General Sismondini is qualified on both jets and helicopters, with approximately 2,500 flight hours and over 180 combat missions during his various deployments. He has been awarded three badges for combat operations and, in addition to the Bronze Medal of Aeronautical Valor, he holds the Gold Long Navigation Medal, the Mauritian Medal for Fifty Years of Military Service, NATO medals for service in operations related to the former Yugoslavia, NATO Medal for service in Kosovo, NATO Non-Article 5 Medal for service in Operation Unified Protector in Libya, and the Silver Medal of Merit for Long Command. He has also been awarded the Army Commendation Medal by the United States Army for operations in Iraq. He is married to Mrs. Ornella and has one son, Matteo.