Lieutenant General Antonio Conserva

Chief of Staff Italian Air Force

Since 16th of May 2025 Lieutenant General Antonio CONSERVA is the Italian Air Force Chief of Staff. He serves as the senior uniformed Air Force Officer responsible for the organisation, training and equipment of 44.000 active duty men and women serving in Italy and overseas. In accordance with the directives of the Chief of Defense Staff, he is responsible for the preparation and deployment of the national airspace defense system and, for this purpose; he coordinates the deployment of all the means involved in the defense of national airspace.

Lieutenant General (AF) Antonio CONSERVA was born in Taranto on 12 January 1963. In 1982 he joined the Air Force enrolling in Course “Borea 4”, and got his Military Pilot license in 1987.

In 1988 he was assigned to 21st Fighter Squadron - 53rd Wing Cameri, where he achieved Combat Readiness on F104S aircraft. Within the 21st Fighter Squadron he was appointed Commander of 351st Flight and Squadron Operations Officer, taking part in Operations “Trinacria” and “Deny Flight”.

In 1994 he served as flight instructor in the USA, flying T38 aircraft. On his return to Italy in 1997 he was assigned to 61st Wing-Lecce, where he commanded the 213th Training Squadron. Subsequently he held the post of Wing Operations Officer.

After attending the Joint Staff College (ISSMI) in academic year 2000/2001, he was assigned to the Air Force Staff where he served as Head of Performance, Verification and Analysis Office within the General Office for Internal Control, then as Deputy Head of General Planning Office- 3rd Department. From September 2006 to July 2008 he commanded 36th Wing - Gioia del Colle.

In 2008 he returned to the Air Force Staff as Head of General Planning and Transformation Office -3rd Department and, from 2010, as Deputy Head of 6th Department - Economic and Financial Affairs.

In October 2012 he was appointed Head of the General Internal Control Office and, from September 2013, Head of 6th Department - Economic and Financial Affairs.

In April 2016 he was assigned to the Defence Staff, where he held the post of Deputy HeadGeneral Office for Planning, Programming and Budgeting. In June, 2017 he took office as Commander-Air Operations Command – Poggio Renatico.

On his return to the Defence Staff, in 2019, he was appointed Head of the General Office for Planning, Programming and Budgeting. On June 22nd, 2021 he was appointed Chief of the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense. On October 19th 2023 he was appointed Logistics Commander of the Italian Air Force. #

Gen. Conserva has over 3.000 flight hours on his record, achieved in fighter and advanced training aircrafts. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Naples University and a Master Degree in International and Diplomatic Sciences from Trieste University, a Master Degree in International Strategic and Military Studies from Center for Defence Higher Studies (Rome) and a Master’s Degree in National Security Strategy from National Defense University (Washington, DC).

Lt Gen. Conserva was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and was awarded the “Mauriziana” Medal for 50 years military service, the Military Medal of Merit for Long Command in gold, the Gold Medal for long air navigation, the Gold Service Cross with star, , the NATO Medal for Operations in Former Yugoslavia, the NATO Medal for Operations in and Kosovo, Medal for Meritorious Service of the US Air Force and Service Medal forCommon Security and Defense Policy for Planning and Support for his participation in EU Operation “Sophia”.