General Paolo Ruggiero

General Paolo Ruggiero took up the post of Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation on July 19, 2019.

He was born in Naples on September 26, 1957, graduated from the Italian Military Academy in Modena, and received his commission as a Field Artillery (FA) Officer on September 1, 1977.

Early in his career he served with the “Ariete” Armoured Division as FA Battery EXO, Battery Commander, and FA Battalion S3 and S1. Later, as a Lieutenant Colonel, he led the 1st FA Battalion at the Field Artillery School, and as a Colonel he commanded the 52nd FA regiment “Torino”.

He filled a number of staff officer roles across the Italian Army and Defence General Staff, among them Chief of the Operations Office at the Army General Staff; Chief of the Executive Office of the Chief of Italian Defence Staff; Chief of the Executive Office of the Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff; and Chief of Staff of the Army Logistics Command.

Between 1997 and 2000, he served as Assistant Army Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

After his promotion to Brigadier General in 2005, he commanded the 132nd “Ariete” Armoured Brigade. While in that role, he deployed to South Lebanon as Commander of the Joint Task Force - Sector West under the UNIFIL Operation (October 2007 to May 2008).

He was promoted to Major General in 2009 and went on to command the Field Artillery Headquarters.

On July 1, 2014, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and served as Commander of the Army Command for Education, Training and School of Applied Military Studies in Turin.

Between February and September 2015 he deployed to Afghanistan, first as Chief of Staff and then as Deputy Commander for Transition of NATO’s “Resolute Support” mission. He was appointed Deputy Commander of NATO Land Command in Izmir on January 15, 2016, and left that post in June 2019.

At the rank of General, he was appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.

Among the studies and courses he has completed are the Officer Advanced Course at the US Army FA School in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma (1987); the Basic and Advanced Staff Courses at the Italian Army Staff College (1991 and 1995); and the Command and General Staff Course at the US Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas (1992). He also holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Strategic Military Studies.

His main honorary awards include the Army Meritorious Gold Cross; the Army Meritorious Silver Cross; Commander of the Meritorious Order of the Republic of Italy; the Army Gold Medal for Longevity in Command; the Legion of Merit of the United States of America; NATO Medals for peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan; the UN Medal for participation in the UNIFIL Mission; the US Army Meritorious Service Medal; the Order of the Cedar of the Republic of Lebanon; and the Medal of Multinational Cooperation (level II) of the Republic of Slovenia.

He is married to Holly Ann and the couple have two daughters, Adriana and Valeria. In his free time, General Ruggiero enjoys running, jazz music and history.