Bruno Branciforte
Encyclopedia
Bruno Branciforte is an Italian admiral
, who was the last head of the Italian SISMI
military intelligence, nominated by Prime minister Romano Prodi
on November 21, 2006. He succeeded to Nicolò Pollari
on December 16 and remained in charge until August 3, 2007, when SISMI was disbanded and transformed in AISE
- Agenzia Informazioni e Sicurezza Esterna (Agency for External Information and Security).
Born in Naples
, he studied at the Naval Academy
of Livorno
. He entered the Italian Navy
in 1969. From 1976 to 1978 he commanded the Aquila Corvette
. In 1979 he was named to the Second Intelligence unit of the chief of staff of the Navy, before being appointed director of the Intelligence Center of the Navy and then director of the research center in 1985.
In 1985, he was named Captain of frigate
, and quickly became first commandant of the cruiser Vittorio Veneto
, before being named commandant of the Alisea frigate. In 1987 he was again assigned to the chief of staff of the Navy, before being nominated in Washington D.C., where he worked from 1989 to 1992.
When he returned to Italy, he became commandant of the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. Promoted Rear Admiral
in 1995, he was from December 15, 2001 to February 12, 2002 Italy's representative at Tampa
(USA), near the USCENTCOM, during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He became chief of staff of the Navy from 2001 to 2004
He was promoted Vice-Admiral in February 2004.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
, who was the last head of the Italian SISMI
SISMI
Servizio per le Informazioni e la Sicurezza Militare was the military intelligence agency of Italy from 1977-2007....
military intelligence, nominated by Prime minister Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi is an Italian politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Italy, from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008...
on November 21, 2006. He succeeded to Nicolò Pollari
Nicolò Pollari
Nicolò Pollari is a general of the Italian Guardia di Finanza, who was the former head of Italy's national military intelligence agency, or SISMI, until his resignation on 20 November 2006.He was born in Caltanissetta, Sicily....
on December 16 and remained in charge until August 3, 2007, when SISMI was disbanded and transformed in AISE
Agenzia Informazioni e Sicurezza Esterna
The Agenzia Informazioni e Sicurezza Esterna , commonly known as AISE and formerly known as SISMI, is the external intelligence agency of Italy. Operating outside of Italy, the organisation protects Italy's regional interests mainly through the use of HUMINT.-External links:*...
- Agenzia Informazioni e Sicurezza Esterna (Agency for External Information and Security).
Born in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, he studied at the Naval Academy
Accademia Navale di Livorno
The Italian Naval Academy is a coeducational military university in Leghorn , which is responsible for the technical training of military officers of the Italian Navy.-The Hospital of St. James:...
of Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
. He entered the Italian Navy
Marina Militare
The Italian Navy is the navy of the Italian Republic. It is one of the four branches of military forces of Italy; formed in 1946, from what remained of the Regia Marina . As of 2008, the Italian Navy had 35,200 active personnel with 180 commissioned ships, 19 Floating Docks, and 123 aircraft...
in 1969. From 1976 to 1978 he commanded the Aquila Corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
. In 1979 he was named to the Second Intelligence unit of the chief of staff of the Navy, before being appointed director of the Intelligence Center of the Navy and then director of the research center in 1985.
In 1985, he was named Captain of frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
, and quickly became first commandant of the cruiser Vittorio Veneto
Italian cruiser Vittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto is a helicopter cruiser that served with the Italian Marina Militare, the Italian navy. Originally it was intended to be a class of two ships specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare , but only Vittorio Veneto entered into service in 1969, its sister ship Italia being...
, before being named commandant of the Alisea frigate. In 1987 he was again assigned to the chief of staff of the Navy, before being nominated in Washington D.C., where he worked from 1989 to 1992.
When he returned to Italy, he became commandant of the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. Promoted Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in 1995, he was from December 15, 2001 to February 12, 2002 Italy's representative at Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
(USA), near the USCENTCOM, during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He became chief of staff of the Navy from 2001 to 2004
He was promoted Vice-Admiral in February 2004.
Sources
- Branciforte, una vita in Marina e tante relazioni con gli Usa, La RepubblicaLa Repubblicala Repubblica is an Italian daily general-interest newspaper. Founded in 1976 in Rome by the journalist Eugenio Scalfari, as of 2008 is the second largest circulation newspaper, behind the Corriere della Sera.-Foundation:...
, 20 November 2006