Massimo Panizzi
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Short description|Italian Army Major General}}
{{Orphan|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Massimo Panizzi
| image = Massimo Panizzi.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = General Massimo Panizzi, Commander of the Military Geographic Institute in Florence
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|10|10}}
| birth_place = Marina di Carrara, Italy
| death_date =
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| allegiance = Italy
| branch = Italian Army
| serviceyears = 1981–present
| rank = 30x30px Lieutenant General
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| commands = 25x25px Alpini Battalion "Susa"
20x20px Alpine Brigade "Taurinense"
30x30px Comando Regione Militare Nord
| battles = NATO SFOR and IFOR – Bosnia and Herzegovina
NATO KFOR – Kosovo
Operation Ancient Babylon – Irak
NATO Resolute Support Mission – Afghanistan
| awards =
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
Massimo Panizzi (born October 10, 1962) is an Italian Army Lieutenant General who currently serves as the Commander of the Italian Army Territorial Command in Rome and Commander of the Military Geographic Institute in Florence. He previously served as the Italian Deputy Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee and Chief of the NATO Office of the Italian Military Delegation at NATO HQ, Brussels.{{cite web|url=https://www.ana.it/2019/09/18/il-gen-panizzi-alla-nato/|title=Il Generale Panizzi alla NATO}}
He participated in numerous international military operations and he has served as the Deputy Chief of staff Support (DCOS SPT) for the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Kabul.{{cite web|url=https://www.difesa.it/OperazioniMilitari/op_intern_corso/AfghanistanRS/notizie_teatro/Pagine/Afghanistan_Gen_Panizzi_incarico_Deputy_Chief_of_Staff_Support.aspx|title=Missione in Afghanistan: Gen. Panizzi assume incarichi di D-COS SPT e di IT-SNR}}
He assumed the assignment of Deputy Commander of the Military Command of the Capital in Rome on September 19, 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.esercito.difesa.it/comunicazione/Pagine/L%E2%80%99Esercito-ricorda-i-Caduti_221102.aspx |website=www.esercito.difesa.it |date=2 Nov 2022 |title=L'Esercito ricorda i Caduti |lang=it}}
Since August 2023 he assumed the command of the Capital (Territorial) Command within the Italian Army Operational Forces HQ (Rome) and of the Military Geographic Institute (Florence).{{cite web |url=https://www.igmi.org/it/chi-siamo/chi-siamo-1/il-comandante-dellistituto-geografico-militare|date=18 Aug 2023 |title=Il Comandante dell'Istituto Geografico Militare|lang=it}}
Early life and education
Massimo Panizzi was born in Marina di Carrara, in Tuscany, Italy on October 10, 1962. He attended the Military Academy of Modena, he graduated from the University of Turin and he was commissioned into the Italian Army in 1981, becoming an Alpini Officer. He attended the Defence Staff College in Rome, the Centre for High Military Studies and the Institute for High Studies of the National Defense in Paris, the Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors' Course (GFOAC). He holds University bachelor's degrees in Pedagogy, Strategic Sciences, International and Diplomatic Relations, and is journalist with expertise in Marketing & Communications.{{cite web|url=https://www.difesa.it/Amministrazionetrasparente/direttacollaborazioneministro/personaleufficidirettacollaborazioneministro/Documents/CV%20Gen%20%20PANIZZI.pdf|title=Curriculum Vitae Dirigenti Militari}} He has contributed to a number of publications and studies.{{cite web|url=https://www.difesa.it/SMD_/CASD/IM/CeMiSS/Pubblicazioni/ricerche/Pagine/Cooperazioni.aspx|title=Cooperation between Armed Forces and non-governmental organizations in Military Crisis Response Operations}}{{cite web|url=http://www.affari-esteri.it/ae1999.html|title=Affari Esteri, rivista trimestrale, edition 1999}}{{cite web|url=http://www.affari-esteri.it/|title=Affari Esteri, rivista trimestrale. Elenco dei collaboratori}}{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/rivista.militare1/docs/2rm-2002/7|title=Rivista Militare n.2/2002. Cooperation between civilians and military in crisis management, p. 58}}
Military career
In a career spanning almost forty years, Massimo Panizzi has commanded Mountain Troops units at every rank from Lieutenant to Brigadier-General, including the “Susa” Battalion of Pinerolo{{cite web|url=https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/3%C2%BA_Reggimento_alpini|title=3° Reggimento Alpini. Comandanti Battaglione "Susa" (1946-2001) con il grado di Tenente Colonnello}}{{Circular reference|date=March 2021}} the 8th Alpini Regiment of Cividale del Friuli{{cite web|url=https://www.ana.it/lalpino/nuovo-comandante-all-8-alpini2209/|title=Nuovo comandante all'8° Alpini}} – the operational unit of the European Union Battle Group – and the Alpini Brigade Taurinense in Turin{{cite web|url=http://www.torinotoday.it/cronaca/massimo-panizzi-generale-brigata-alpina-taurinense.html|title=La Brigata Alpina Taurinense ha un nuovo generale: Massimo Panizzi}} transforming it into a key European French-Italian Brigade HQ.{{cite web|url=https://www.paolacasoli.com/2015/03/la-brigata-italo-francese-strumento-ideale-per-la-nuova-nato-spearhead-force-intervista-al-gen-panizzi-comandante-della-taurinense/|title=La Brigata italo-francese, strumento ideale per la nuova Nato spearhead force: intervista al Gen. Panizzi, comandante della Taurinense}}
As a Senior Staff Officer, he led the Press Offices of the Italian Army General Staff and of the Italian Ministry of Defence, where he introduced the first Italian Ministerial Policy on Strategic Communication.{{cite web|url=http://www.difesa.it/Il_Ministro/Uffici_diretta_collaborazione/Documents/direttiva_stratcom.pdf|title=Direttiva sulla Comunicazione Strategica del Ministero della Difesa}} He also served as Spokesperson and Strategic Communication Advisor to the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee and the NATO International Military Staff.{{cite web|url=https://www.fanpage.it/esteri/guerra-in-libia-litalia-avra-il-comando-navale-sullembargo-delle-armi/|title=Guerra in Libia, l'Italia avrà il comando navale sull'embargo delle armi}}{{cite web|url=https://corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/napoli/notizie/cronaca/2011/23-marzo-2011/napoli-snodo-operazione-nato-libia-ammiraglio-veri-vertice--190289444200.shtml|title=Napoli snodo dell'operazione NATO in Libia}}
On 2004 he has published research on the relations between military and Non-Governmental Organizations in the Crisis Response Operations{{Cite web|url=https://www.difesa.it/SMD_/CASD/IM/CeMiSS/Pubblicazioni/ricerche/Pagine/Cooperazioni.aspx|title=Cooperazioni tra Forze Armate e organizzazioni non governative nelle operazioni militari di risposta alle crisi}}
and, on 2010, he elaborated the NATO Military Public Affairs Policy.{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/ims/docu/mil-pol-pub-affairs-en.pdf|title=NATO Military Public Affairs Policy (MC 0457/2, February 2011)}} He also was deputy commander of the Training Command and Application School of the Army, situated in Turin, where he was responsible for the training, education and specialization of all Italian Army Officers.
General Panizzi has served in a number of overseas missions and operations, including Bosnia and Herzegovina with both NATO IFOR and SFOR, Kosovo with NATO KFOR,{{cite web|url=http://www1.adnkronos.com/Archivio/AdnAgenzia/2003/04/19/Cronaca/PASQUA-MILITARI-ITALIANI-KOSOVO-MESSE-E-MENU-TUTTO-ITALIANO_172100.php|title=Pasqua, militari italiani Kosovo, messe e menù tutto italiano}} and Irak as part of Operation Ancient Babylon serving in the HQ of the US-led Multinational Corps Irak, and most recently in Afghanistan where he was Deputy Chief of Staff Support (DCOS SPT) for the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Kabul.{{cite web|url=https://www.panorama.it/news/afghanistan-guerra-talebani|title=Afghanistan, 17 anni di guerra e i talebani sono ancora padroni}}{{cite web|url=https://www.difesa.it/OperazioniMilitari/op_intern_corso/AfghanistanRS/notizie_teatro/Pagine/Afghanistan_Gen_Panizzi_incarico_Deputy_Chief_of_Staff_Support.aspx|title=Missione in Afghanistan: Gen. Panizzi assume incarichi di D-COS SPT e di IT-SNR}}{{cite web|url=https://www.difesaonline.it/geopolitica/reportage/reportage-afghanistan-gen-panizzi-addestrare-le-forze-di-sicurezza-%C3%A8-una-delle|title=Reportage Afghanistan: Gen. Panizzi, "Addestrare le forze di sicurezza è una delle armi migliori per combattere il terrorismo"}}
Panizzi is the recipient of a number of honours and awards, including Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana, the French Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur{{cite web|url=https://www.ana.it/2016/05/02/legione-d-onore-al-generale-massimo-panizzi/|title=Legione d'onore al Generale Massimo Panizzi}} and the US Legion of Merit.
From Sept 2019 to Sept 2022 Major General Panizzi has served as the Italian Deputy Military Representative and Head of the NATO Office to the Italian Military Delegation at NATO HQ, Brussels.
He assumed the assignment of Deputy Commander of the Military Command of the Capital in Rome on September 19, 2022. Since August 2023 he assumed the command of the Italian Operational Forces Capital (Territorial) Command in Rome and of the Military Geographic Institute in Florence.
Awards and decorations
References
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