Lieutenant General Francesco Vestito

Commander, Italian Air Force Education and Training Command/3rd Air Region Italian Air Force

Lieutenant General Francesco Vestito is Commander of the Italian Air Force Education and Training Command/3rd Air Region, responsible for the recruitment, selection, training, and qualification of Air Force personnel, including the initial flight training of future military pilots and navigators. A graduate of the Italian Air Force Academy's "EOLO IV" class, he earned his military pilot wings through the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) programme in the United States before joining the 36th Wing as a Tornado fighter pilot. He later served as an instructor pilot with the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment in the United Kingdom and went on to command the 156th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. Throughout his career, Lt Gen Vestito has held a series of senior operational and command appointments, including Commander of the Joint Air Task Force in support of ISAF operations in Afghanistan, Commander of the 6th Wing, Director of the Defence Innovation Centre, Commander of the Joint Cyber Operations Command, Combat Forces Commander of the Italian Air Force, and Director of Air Force Personnel. His extensive leadership experience spans air operations, innovation, cyber defence, force generation, and military training.