Vincenzo Camporini
Encyclopedia
General Vincenzo Camporini, KGC
, born in 1946, is the Chief of Defence General Staff on February 12, 2008. He became the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force on September 20, 2006. Camporini has over 2500 hours flying time in over twenty different aircraft including F-104
, Tornado
, AMX
, heavy transport aircraft and helicopters. General Camporini is also qualified in Aeronautical Sciences and International and Diplomatic Sciences. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
he served as an F-104 RECCE
pilot with the 3rd Wing in Villafranca (Verona), during which he commanded the 28th Squadron right after his graduation at the NATO Defence College in 1977 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After graduating at the ITAF Air War College in 1982 he served as Staff Officer at the Personnel Division of the Air Staff.
to the Chief of Staff. With the rank of Colonel
, which he earned in 1985, he served in the Weapon Systems Research and Development Office. In 1988 Camporini commanded the Air Force Flight Test Centre and represented Italy to the Aerospace Application Study Committee of AGARD
. In the Air Force Staff he served as the chief of the New Weapon Systems Technical Development, including EFA, and was the Italian Representative in the NAEW program. During his time at the rank of Brigadier General
, starting from 1993, he directed the Plans, Operations and Training Division and in 1996 was the Inspector of Aviation for the Navy. In April 1996 he was given the title of Inspector of the Aviation for the Navy. As a Major General
, he has been appointed as Inspector for Flight Safety and Chief of the 3rd Division of the Defence General Staff Military Policy, International Affairs, Armament Control and Civil Defence. On April 20, 2001, with the rank of Lieutenant General
, took up the position of Deputy Chief of Defence General Staff until February 29, 2004 when he was designated as president of the Italian Centre for High Defence Studies.
, Tornado
, AMX
, heavy transport aircraft and helicopters. As of December 2003 he had flown around 2500 hours. On February 12, 2008 General Camporini was appointed to Chief of Defence General Staff.
In a Defense News Media Group Conference, "Camporini: Create Interoperability Through Modeling and Simulation" Camporini said that the objective for the Air Force is to develop an infrastructure that could support decision makers in the procurement phase and operational sites in the employment of new systems and technologies to be used for training purposes and for operational reasons.
He also wishes to acquire modeling and simulation (M&S) gear in four areas: air and ballistic missile defense; operational planning, tasking and evaluation; operational training and mission practice in distributed environments; and coalition operations and crisis response. Camporini's opinion of the Modeling and Simulation Department's vision is that the key concept in the Air Force M&S vision is a joint synthetic battle space connecting analysis and training, as well as tying together many types of models and simulations with different kinds of operators. Camporini says that he believes the simulations extend from high-level aggregate models to detailed engineering models, from pilots in live aircraft and simulators to hardware components and laboratory test beds.
Vincenzo Camporini believes that in the future the Ministry of Defence needs to rewrite their military doctrines, taking into account the redistribution of responsibility imposed by the new technology and conversely they have to take the greatest care in nurturing the maturity and the cultural level of the troops, throughout the education that is provided. he has stated the he wonders whether the OSCE is not in the position to take any initiative in the field of education of military personnel, or to make everybody aware of the specifics related to the operations peculiar to its mission.
He states that he is fully convinced that the greatest challenge is not technology in itself, is not security and integrity of data, is not the decluttering of information, but the quantum leap in culture required at all echelons. Generals must learn to do and stick to their job of strategists and planners, leaving tactics where they belong; platoon commanders must learn to take their own growing share of responsibility to conduct actions that concur with the intent indicated by generals, without minute by minute directions.
. He also received the Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
grandchildren.
Order of the Crown of Italy
The Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861...
, born in 1946, is the Chief of Defence General Staff on February 12, 2008. He became the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force on September 20, 2006. Camporini has over 2500 hours flying time in over twenty different aircraft including F-104
F-104 Starfighter
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
, Tornado
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
, AMX
AMX International AMX
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*Braybrook, Roy. "Assessing the AMX". Air International, June 1989, Vol 36 No 6. Bromley, UK:Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 267–278....
, heavy transport aircraft and helicopters. General Camporini is also qualified in Aeronautical Sciences and International and Diplomatic Sciences. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Before being a general officer
He was in the Air Force Academy in 1965 where he later graduated in 1969. During his time as a Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
he served as an F-104 RECCE
Recce
Recce may refer to:* Reconnaissance, military scouting* SEAL Recon Rifle, a rifle used by US Navy SEALs also called the Recce Rifle* Recce , a pre-shoot reconnaissance of a film location...
pilot with the 3rd Wing in Villafranca (Verona), during which he commanded the 28th Squadron right after his graduation at the NATO Defence College in 1977 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After graduating at the ITAF Air War College in 1982 he served as Staff Officer at the Personnel Division of the Air Staff.
As a general officer
Between 1983 and 1985 he was the Aide-de-campAide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Chief of Staff. With the rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, which he earned in 1985, he served in the Weapon Systems Research and Development Office. In 1988 Camporini commanded the Air Force Flight Test Centre and represented Italy to the Aerospace Application Study Committee of AGARD
AGARD
The acronym AGARD stands for Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development, and was an agency of NATO that existed from 1952 to 1996....
. In the Air Force Staff he served as the chief of the New Weapon Systems Technical Development, including EFA, and was the Italian Representative in the NAEW program. During his time at the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
, starting from 1993, he directed the Plans, Operations and Training Division and in 1996 was the Inspector of Aviation for the Navy. In April 1996 he was given the title of Inspector of the Aviation for the Navy. As a Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, he has been appointed as Inspector for Flight Safety and Chief of the 3rd Division of the Defence General Staff Military Policy, International Affairs, Armament Control and Civil Defence. On April 20, 2001, with the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
, took up the position of Deputy Chief of Defence General Staff until February 29, 2004 when he was designated as president of the Italian Centre for High Defence Studies.
As the Chief of Staff
Camporini began holding office as a General in the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force on September 20, 2006. He is now a command pilot with experience in over twenty different aircraft including F-104F-104 Starfighter
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
, Tornado
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
, AMX
AMX International AMX
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*Braybrook, Roy. "Assessing the AMX". Air International, June 1989, Vol 36 No 6. Bromley, UK:Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 267–278....
, heavy transport aircraft and helicopters. As of December 2003 he had flown around 2500 hours. On February 12, 2008 General Camporini was appointed to Chief of Defence General Staff.
Air Force Objective
In a Defense News Media Group Conference, "Camporini: Create Interoperability Through Modeling and Simulation" Camporini said that the objective for the Air Force is to develop an infrastructure that could support decision makers in the procurement phase and operational sites in the employment of new systems and technologies to be used for training purposes and for operational reasons.
Modeling and Simulation
He also wishes to acquire modeling and simulation (M&S) gear in four areas: air and ballistic missile defense; operational planning, tasking and evaluation; operational training and mission practice in distributed environments; and coalition operations and crisis response. Camporini's opinion of the Modeling and Simulation Department's vision is that the key concept in the Air Force M&S vision is a joint synthetic battle space connecting analysis and training, as well as tying together many types of models and simulations with different kinds of operators. Camporini says that he believes the simulations extend from high-level aggregate models to detailed engineering models, from pilots in live aircraft and simulators to hardware components and laboratory test beds.
Ministry of Defence
Vincenzo Camporini believes that in the future the Ministry of Defence needs to rewrite their military doctrines, taking into account the redistribution of responsibility imposed by the new technology and conversely they have to take the greatest care in nurturing the maturity and the cultural level of the troops, throughout the education that is provided. he has stated the he wonders whether the OSCE is not in the position to take any initiative in the field of education of military personnel, or to make everybody aware of the specifics related to the operations peculiar to its mission.
Jobs and challenges
He states that he is fully convinced that the greatest challenge is not technology in itself, is not security and integrity of data, is not the decluttering of information, but the quantum leap in culture required at all echelons. Generals must learn to do and stick to their job of strategists and planners, leaving tactics where they belong; platoon commanders must learn to take their own growing share of responsibility to conduct actions that concur with the intent indicated by generals, without minute by minute directions.
Awards
His awards and decorations include Gold Medal for Flying Merit, Command Gold Medal, Gold Cross for Military Service, Italian Defence General Staff Medal of Honour, Commandeur of the Order of Merit of the French Republic, Santos Dumont Medal to the Merit of the Republic of Brazil, and the Paul Tissandier Diploma awarded by the Fédération Aéronautique InternationaleFédération Aéronautique Internationale
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...
. He also received the Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Italian orders of merit
There are five orders of knighthood awarded in recognition of service to the Italian Republic. Below these sit a number of other decorations, associated and otherwise, that do not confer knighthoods...
Personal life
Camporini earned University degrees in Aeronautical Sciences and International and Diplomatic Sciences. He is currently a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He is married to the former Silvana Alemanno, with which they have a daughter and twograndchildren.