Major General Gianluca ERCOLANI, Italian Air Force (ITA AF), is the Chief of Staff of Headquarters Allied Air Command at Ramstein, Germany. In this position he oversees a multinational headquarters with staff from 25 of the 30 NATO Allies that provides Air and Space Power to the NATO Alliance.
Born in Ancona, Italy, on 30 September 1969, he graduated from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1992 and, during the course of his career, achieved a post-graduate degree in Aeronautical Sciences and a Master in International Military Strategic Studies. In 1993, after graduating at the military pilot course at Sheppard Air Force Base (USA) and the subsequent transition to the Tornado at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Cottesmore, Great Britain, he was assigned to the Italian Air Force 50th Wing, Piacenza, Italy. There, he has flown the Tornado's Electronic Combat / Reconnaissance version and commanded at the Flight (1995-1997) and Squadron (2005-2007) level.
Having attended (2008) the Joint Transition and Combined Warfighting Course at the Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk (USA), he was posted to the Italian Air Force's General Staff, Rome, Italy where, amongst others, he chaired the Joint Strike Fighter Working Group (2007-2011) and headed the Aerospace Programmes Development Office (2012-2013).
During 2013-2015, he commanded the Experimental Flight Department, Pratica di Mare Air Base, Italy, where his responsibilities included Chief, Test Pilot Qualification Centre.
After attending the Strategic Civilian Common Security and Defence Policy Mission Planning Course at the European Security and Defence College, Brussels, Belgium, he moved to Rome, Italy, where he served (2015-2017) as Chief of the Strategic and Political Direction of Military Operations Department within the Italian Defence General Staff.
His next assignment brought him to the ITA AF's Air and Space Operations Command (COA), Poggio Renatico Air Base (ITA), where he was initially appointed as Chief of the A3 Combat Plans Office, Italian Air Operations Centre (IT-AOC) (2017-2018). After graduating at the Combined Force Air Component Commander (CFACC) Course (2018) at the Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base (USA), he served as Commander, IT-AOC (2018-2021) and Commander, Operations Department (2021-2022), where his responsibilities included the capacity of Deputy Commander, COA (2018-2022).
Major General Ercolani is married and has one adult son; he is a sportsman and a follower of global affairs.
EDUCATION
1993 Italian Air Force Academy
2004 Master Degree in Aeronautical Science
2006 Master Degree in Diplomatic and Political Science
2008 Joint Transition and Combined Warfighting Course (Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, United States of America)
2018 Combined Force Air Component Commander Course (Air University - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, United States of America)
2022 Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors' Course (NATO Defence College, Rome, Italy)
ASSIGNMENTS
1988 – 1993 Student, Italian Air Force Academy, Pozzuoli, Italy.
1995 – 1997 Commander, 365th Flight of 155th Squadron at 50th Wing, Piacenza, Italy.
1997 – 2000 Fighter Pilot / Safety Officer / Section Chief – 155th Squadron at 50th Wing, Piacenza, Italy.
2000 Fighter Pilot, Nellis Air Force Base, United States of America.
2000 – 2002 Chief, Training and Standardization Section – 155th Squadron at 50th Wing, Piacenza, Italy.
2002 – 2003 Chief, Operational Tactics Unit – 155th Squadron at 50th Wing, Piacenza, Italy.
2003 – 2005 Chief, Operation Section – 155th Squadron at 50th Wing, Piacenza, Italy.
2005 – 2007 Commander, 155th Squadron at 50th Wing, Piacenza, Italy.
2007 – 2011 Chairman, Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Working Group, Air Force General Staff, Rome, Italy.
2012 – 2013 Chief, Aerospace Programmes Development Office of the Logistic Department, Italian Air Force General Staff, Rome, Italy.
2013 – 2015 Commander, Air Force Flight Test Wing, Pratica di Mare, Italy.
2015 – 2017 Chief, Strategic and Political Direction of the Military Operations Department, Italian Defence General Staff – Rome, Italy.
2017 – 2018 Chief, A3 Combat Plans Office, Italian Air Operation Centre, Air Operations Command – Poggio Renatico, Italy.
2018 – 2021 Commander, Italian Air Operations Centre / Deputy Commander, Airspace Operations Command (Combined Assignment), Air Operations Command – Poggio Renatico, Italy.
2021 – 2022 Commander, Operation Department / Deputy Commander, Air and Space Operations Command (Combined Assignment), Air and Space Operations Command – Poggio Renatico, Italy.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Fighter Pilot.
Flight hours: 2800.
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, G-91T, MB-339, PA-200, AMX-T ACOL, F2000, T-346A, SF-260, P-180, C-27J, S-208M, TH-500B, HH-149A, HH-212A, AW-189.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Command Duties Silver Medal
Long Navigation Duty Gold Medal
Bosnia Mission Medal
Former Republic of Yugoslavia Operations NATO Medal
Kosovo Operations NATO Medal
ISAF NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September 17, 1990
First Lieutenant March 17, 1992
Captain March 17, 1996
Major January 01, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel January 01, 2006
Colonel July 01, 2010
Brigadier General January 01, 2018
Major General January 01, 2022
(Current as of June 2022)