Change at the top of Special Forces: General Manzone new COMFOSE Commander

Il 5 settembre, presso il Comprensorio Militare “Ten. MOVM Dario Vitali” di Pisa, si è tenuta la solenne cerimonia che ha segnato il passaggio di comando delle Forze Speciali dell’Esercito Italiano (COMFOSE). Parachutist Brigadier General Andrea Vicari officially passed the baton to the Alpine Parachutist Brigadier General Marco Manzone.

The handover was preceded, on 3 September, by a meeting at the Prefecture of Pisa, where the Prefect Maria Luisa D'Alessandro ha accolto i Generali Vicari e Manzone, rafforzando ulteriormente i legami istituzionali tra le Forze Armate e il territorio, sottolineando il ruolo cruciale delle forze speciali nell’ambito della sicurezza nazionale e internazionale.

Brigadier General Andrea Vicari, outgoing commander, has a career full of significant national and international experience. From 2018 to 2019, he was Commander of the special forces regiment 185th RRAO Folgore, oltre ad aver prestato servizio presso lo Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito e lo Stato Maggiore della Difesa a Roma. Le sue competenze sono state ulteriormente rafforzate dal suo periodo di servizio presso il NATO Allied Command Transformation a Norfolk, in Virginia (USA), dove ha lavorato in un contesto internazionale a stretto contatto con le forze armate di altri Paesi membri della NATO. Ha inoltre partecipato a numerose missioni operative all’estero.

Brigadier General Marco Manzone, originally from Asti, takes command of COMFOSE with a wealth of command experience that makes him a leading figure in the Italian Armed Forces. He commanded from 2019 to 2021 the prestigious special forces unit 4th Alpine Parachute Regiment e vanta numerosi incarichi di comando e staff presso le Truppe Alpine e lo Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito. A livello internazionale ha prestato servizio presso il NRDC-ITA Multinational Command in Solbiate Olona and like its predecessor at the NATO Supreme Transformation Command in Norfolk, Virginia.

His career has taken him to various operational theatres, including Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo, where he has been able to demonstrate his skills as a commander in highly critical contexts. The handover ceremony was held in the presence of numerous guests, including a representation of the ANA Section of Astihome town of the new commander. In particular, councillor Giorgio Gianuzzi and other members of the section, with banner and pennant, wished to be present to celebrate one of their countrymen at such an important moment.

BrigadeFolgore.net congratulates General Manzone on his prestigious appointment as COMFOSE Commander. Best wishes Mr Commander!