Colonel Stefano Rigoni

Chief of the Modelling and Simulation Office Italian Air Force

Colonel Stefano RIGONI was born in Rome on 27 February 1975, he graduated in “Informatics and Programmer” before joining the Italian Air Force Accademy in 1995, with the class Sparviero IV, graduating in Political Science in 1999. Nominated 2nd Lieutenant in 1997, after attending the Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training at the US Navy base – Pensacola (FL), he received his Military WSO wings in 2001 and was assigned to the 50th Wing of Piacenza, flying with the 155th Squadron in the Electronic Warfare Combat and Reconnaissance role on Tornado ECR until 2017. During his career at the Operational Squadron he has been chief of 361th Squadron, Weapons and Tactics Office Chief, Base Operations Chief and 155th Squadron Commander from 2014 to 2017. He was selected to be instructor for the 3rd class of Cadets at the Air Force Accademy for year 2007-2008, and in 2008 he graduated in International and Diplomatic Science at University of Trieste. In 2011 he participated in operation Odyssey Down and NATO Operation Unified Protector during Italian Military operations in Libya, still in 2011 he served as Electronic Warfare Element Plans Officer at ISAF Headquarters. From 2017 to 2020 he has been Chief of Italian Military Representative in Pax River (USA) Naval Air Station, as Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) - International Directorate Program Lead. After being promoted to Colonel, in 2020 he has been appointed Commander of the Italian Electronic Warfare Centre in Pratica di Mare, and in 2022 he was assigned to the Italian Air Warfare Centre, at Airspace Operational Command, as Chief of the Modelling and Simulation Office. Col. Rigoni attended the following National and International courses: Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training at NAS Pensacola - Florida (USA); Pre-operative Training course, 61th Wing Lecce - Italy; Operational Conversion Unit for Tornado, 6th Wing Ghedi – Italy; Tactical Leadership Program Electronic Warfare course, Florennes - Belgium; Tactical Leadership Program Flying course, Florennes - Belgium; Electronic Warfare course, ReSTOGE Pratica di Mare - Italy; Basic and Advanced Tactical Data Link course, RACSA Pratica di Mare - Italy; ACO AIR ASACS Operations Taceval Evalutors course, NATO School Oberammergau – Germany; Advanced Management for Officers training, Florence – Italy; Air C2 Planning course, Poggio Renatico - Italy; NATO Modelling and Simulation basic course, NATO M&SCOE – Italy; He is qualified as Weapons and Tactics Instructor and Electronic Warfare Officer. He has currently logged over 2400 flying hours and has been decorated with: Enduring Navigation Gold Military medal; Gold Cross for 25 Years of Service medal; Afghanistan Operations Commemorative Cross; Fighter Silver War Badge; NON Article 5 NATO Medal Afghanistan; NON Article 5 NATO Medal Unified Protector Operation.