Paratrooper General Scala is the new Commander of COMFOTER

Rome, May 16, 2025 – This morning, at the Aula Magna of the Rossetti Barracks, headquarters of the Logistics Support Command, the ceremony for the handover of the Commander of the Land Operational Forces (COMFOTER) will take place. From today, Corps General Paratrooper Massimo Scala takes over from Corps General Gaetano Zauner, who relinquishes command after a long and illustrious career in the Armed Forces.

The New Commander: Paratrooper General Scala

General Scala was born in Valentano (VT) on July 31, 1962. After attending the Military Academy of Modena (163rd Course) from 1981 to 1983 and the Application School of Turin from 1984 to 1985, General Scala embarked on a career that saw him take on numerous prestigious roles, including those at the NATO Rapid Reaction Corps Headquarters in Germany, where he served as Operations and Information Officer of the Engineer Division.

Promoted to the rank of Captain in September 1989, in July of the same year he assumed command of the Engineer Sappers Company of Lucca, which he left in September 1993. Since 2000, he has held important command roles, including that of the 5th Engineer Sappers Battalion and the 8th Paratrooper Engineers Regiment. In 2011, he was promoted to Brigadier General and commanded the Grenadiers of Sardinia Brigade, followed by high-profile assignments such as Deputy Chief of Operational Staff and Director of the Defense Works and State Property Directorate.

With the promotion to Corps General in January 2020, General Scala assumed command of the Land Operational Support Forces, and now prepares to lead COMFOTER, a crucial coordination structure for the preparation, training, simulation, and validation of the Army's operational units.

General Scala has participated in numerous international missions under the aegis of NATO, the UN, and the European Union, including:

• Operation Vespri Siciliani (1992-1993)
• Operation Fyrom Joint Guarantor (Macedonia, 1999)
• Operation Kosovo Force Joint Guardian (1999)
• Operation Iraqi Freedom (2005)

His numerous honors include the Medal of Merit for Long Military Parachuting Activity, the Gold Cross for Long Service, and the NATO Kosovo Commemorative Medal, testifying to his dedication and extraordinary professional skills.

COMFOTER: Strategic Role in the Italian Army

The Command of the Land Operational Forces (COMFOTER) is responsible for organizing and managing forces for operations, preparing units, certifying them, and standardizing. COMFOTER supports the Chief of Staff of the Army in directing operational, training activities and functions related to territorial and international missions.

The new commander, General Scala, will have the important task of coordinating resources and operational units, ensuring that the Army is ready to face future strategic challenges. His skills, developed over decades of field career and international operations, will be crucial for strengthening the operational capabilities of the Italian Army.

The Outgoing Commander: General Gaetano Zauner

General Gaetano Zauner, who leaves command today after a long and commendable service, has held prestigious positions in Italy and abroad. Born in Palermo in 1962, Zauner attended the 163rd Course of the Military Academy of Modena, and during his career, he held important operational and staff roles, including Commander of the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" and Commander of COMFOTER.

Among his most significant international missions are Operation Joint Guardian (Kosovo), Operation Essential Harvest (Macedonia), and Operation UNIFIL (Lebanon), where he demonstrated leadership skills and dedication to service. His numerous honors, including the Gold Medal for Long Command Merit in the Army, are recognition of his commitment and professional skills.

Conclusions

With today's handover, General Paratrooper Scala brings with him extensive operational experience, high-level academic preparation, and a career marked by success. His leadership will guide COMFOTER in strengthening the capabilities of the Italian Land Forces, aiming for ever greater integration and operational readiness in a constantly evolving geopolitical context.

In particular, General Scala will have the important task of transferring the headquarters of COMFOTER to Verona, Palazzo Carli, carrying forward a project aimed at further strengthening the presence and efficiency of the Land Forces in the territory.

Good luck, General!