Admiral Luciano Zappata, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, NATO

Admiral Zappata


Admiral Luciano Zappata was promoted to Admiral in June 2007 and assumed the position of Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation in July 2007. He has been awarded the Knight of Italian Military Order and Officer of the Order for Merit of the Republic of Italy.

During his initial tour of duty he served aboard the Italian Navy submarines Enrico Toti, Morosini and Mocenigo. From 1975 to 1978 he served aboard Destroyer Ardito as Communications Officer and Head of the Operations Department. He took command of Corvette Ape in September 1978. From 1979 to 1985 he served as Staff Officer in charge of the development of the Navy Command, Control and Information Automated System.

Selected for promotion to Commander in 1982, he held positions within the Navy General Staff and Commander in Chief Naval Fleet as Chief of the Command and Control Section and subsequently Head of the C3 Office.

During the period 1985 to 1988 Admiral Zappata served first as Executive Officer of Frigate Maestrale and later took command of Frigate Espero, participating in the Persian Gulf Operations to ensure freedom of navigation for merchant vessels operating in the region. From 1987 to 1992 he was assigned to the Italian Naval Staff Weapons Department, where he held several appointments in the Combat Systems Division.

From 1992 to 1993 he served as Commanding Officer of Cruiser Vittorio Veneto participating in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and in the NATO and Western European Union operations in former Yugoslavia.

Promoted to Rear Admiral in December 1996, he held the position of Commander of the Second and Third Naval Divisions during Operation Allied Force-Kosovo. Subsequently, he held various positions, including Assistant Head of the Navy Development Department, Chief of Staff of Commander in Chief Naval Fleet and Vice Inspector for Naval Logistic Support.

In January 2005 he was promoted to Vice Admiral and served first as Navy Chief of Staff Advisor and then as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy. His most recent tour was Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Italian Defence.

Listen to Admiral Zappata's speech

Last updated on 18 Jan 2010