Aquila 1: the Legendary Commanders of the Folgore

When the Brigade gathers, AQUILA 1, the man who shouts “FOLGORE, ATTENTION!“, is the Officer who at that moment is Commanding one of the most prepared, glorious, feared, and respected military units on earth. Glory and respect earned over the years with sweat and blood.

Bold and highly charismatic, some of them have entered legend, all have entered History.

Paratroopers Brigade Folgore:

10 June 1967 1969 1973 1975 1977 1979 1980 1981 1983 1986 1988 1991 1994 1996 1997 1999 2002 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2015 2016 2017 2019 2021 2023 2024 2025

Brig. Gen. Alberto Li Gobbi

(10 June 1967 – 1969)

Brig. Gen. Ferruccio Brandi

(1969 – 1973)

Brig. Gen. Vitaliano Gambarotta

(1973 -1975)

Brig. Gen. Tito Salmi

(1975 – 1977)

Brig. Gen. Gaetano Pellegrino

(1977 – 1979)

Brig. Gen. Francesco De Vita

(1979 – 1981)

Brig. Gen. Ambrogio Viviani

(1980 – 1981)

Brig. Gen. Lucio Innecco

(1981 – 1983)

Brig. Gen. Antonio Milani

(1983- 1986)

Brig. Gen. Aldo Sagnelli

(1986- 1988)

Brig. Gen. Franco Monticone

(1988- 1991)

Brig. Gen. Bruno Loi

(1991- 1994)

Brig. Gen. Bruno Viva

(1994- 1996)

Brig. Gen. Luigi Cantone

(1996- 1997)

Brig. Gen. Enrico Celentano

(1997- 1999)

Brig. Gen. Pierluigi Torelli

(1999- 2002)

Brig. Gen. Marco Bertolini

(2002-2004)

Brig. Gen. Pietro Costantino

(2004-2005)

Gen. di B. Antonio Satta

(2004-2005)

Gen. di B. Maurizio Fioravanti

(2006-2008)

Gen. di B. Rosario Castellano

(2008-2009)

Gen. di B. Federico D'Apuzzo

(2009-2010)

Gen. di B. Carmine Masiello

(2010-2011)

Gen. di B. Massimo Mingiardi

(2011-2013)

Gen. di B. Lorenzo D'Addario

(2013-2015)

Gen. di B. Giovanni Iannucci

(2015-2016)

Gen. di B. Roberto Vannacci

(2016-2017)

Gen. di B. Rodolfo Sganga

(2017-2019)

Gen. di B. Beniamino Vergori

(2019-2021)

Gen. di B. Roberto Vergori

(2021-2023)

Gen. di B. Massimiliano Mongillo

(2023-2024)

Gen. di B. Federico Bernacca

(2024-2025)

Gen. di B. Dario Paduano

(2025-current)

Paratrooper Brigade, 1963-1967:

1 January 1963 1 December 1963 1 December 1966

Brigadier General Aldo Magri

(1 January 1963 – November 1963)

Colonel Renato Mascaretti

(1 December 1963 – November 1966)

Brigadier General Alberto Li Gobbi

(1 December 1966 – 9 June 1967)

Post-war, 1946-1958

1946 1947 1950 1956 1958

Capt. Leonida Turrini

1946-1947

Military Parachuting Study and Experience Center

Lt. Col. Giuseppe Izzo

1947-1950

Military Parachuting Center

Col. Michele Caforio

1950-1956

Military Parachuting Center

Col. Carlo Mautino

1956-1958

Military Parachuting Center

Lt. Col. Adolfo Giunta

1958-1962

Paratrooper Tactical Group

Second World War, 1941-1943

1 September 1941 1 March 1942 19 October 1942 7 December 1942

Brig. Gen. Francesco Sapienza

1 September 1941 – 1 March 1942

Paratrooper Division “Folgore”

Div. Gen. Enrico Frattini

1 March 1942 – 19 October 1942

185th Paratrooper Division “Folgore”

Brig. Gen. Riccardo Bignami

19 October 1942 – 29 November 1942

185th Paratrooper Division “Folgore”

Captain Carlo Lombardini

7 December 1942 – 13 May 1943

285th Paratrooper Battalion “Folgore”