The Commandant

Guidonia

Brigadier General Cristiano TURRIN enlisted in the Italian Air Force in 1988 and attended the specialization course for Air Defense Controller Officers. Then, he was assigned to the 13th Radar Group in Concordia Sagittaria (Venice), where he carried out all operational duties. In February 1997, he was posted to the NATO AWACS component in Geilenkirchen (Germany) as a permanent flight crew member. With more than 1,300 flight hours, he served as a Weapons Controller and Fighter Allocator at the Flying Squadron 2, which also designated him as a specialty instructor and evaluator.

Concurrently, he was deployed in several operations in the former Yugoslavia, including Allied Force, an activity for which he was awarded the badge for war actions (Electronic Warfare specialty – Silver). Returned in Italy in August 2000, he was assigned to the Operational Center of the Italian Air Force Air Operations Command.

In 2003, he assumed the roles of Chief of Service and Chief of the Air Defense Operations Room at the Control & Reporting Post (CRP) "Pioppo". In April 2004, he was deployed to the United States, at the US Central Command in Tampa (Florida). Integrated into the Italian Joint Cell, he operated as Chief of the Air Plans and Operations Section for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Returned in Italy, he resumed his previous duties until 2006, when he was appointed Chief of the Standardization Section and Chief of the Command and Control Systems Section of the Italian Air Force Air Operations Command General Staff.

In November 2008, he was awarded the "Douhet/Mitchell" prize for the best thesis developed during the Command Course. After attending the Joint Services Senior Staff College during the 2008-2009 academic year, he was reassigned to the Italian Air Force Air Operations Command as Staff Officer to the Commanding General and Chief of the Public Information Office and External Relations.

In June 2010, he was assigned to the NATO Headquarters in Naples as Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff. From March to October 2011, at the same NATO command, he also served as Military Assistant to the same Italian authority, who was designated as National Representative within Operation Unified Protector during the Libyan crisis. Assigned to the Air Operations Command in December 2012, he served as Section Chief at the Air Operation Training Center and, subsequently, as Chief of the Operations Section within the Operational Coordination Office.

In October 2015, he was deployed to the Combined Joint Task Force at Camp Arifjan (Kuwait) as Senior Italian Officer and Deputy Director CJ-5 of the Strategy, Plans and Assessment Directorate under Operation Inherent Resolve. Upon returning to Italy, he was assigned to the A.R.S. of the Air Operations Command as Deputy Commander. Upon the establishment of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Department on March 15, 2017, he assumed command until July 2019.

He was then assigned to the Italian Military Delegation to the NATO and EU Military Committees in Brussels, serving as Chief of the EU Operations and Exercises Section until November 30, 2023. Returning to the Aerospace Operations Command in December 2023, he took over as Chief of the Coordination Office until September 2024, when he was posted to the Logistics Command as Chief of the General Office of the Logistics Commander.

In June 2025, he assumed the position of Deputy Director of the Air Force Military Personnel Employment Directorate in Rome untill July 1, 2026.

Since July 9, 2026, he has been the Commander of the School of Aerocooperation.

He is married and has two children.