Arlington, Virginia | October 14, 2023

On October 12, the Mitchell Institute was honored to host a delegation from the Italian Air Force, led by Chief of Staff Gen Luca Goretti. He participated in an Aerospace Nation event with Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, as well as discussions with Mitchell Institute fellows and other experts.

In May 2023, Gen Deptula delivered an address at the 2023 Aerospace Power Conference in Rome, Italy for the Italian Air Force’s centenary. This most recent reciprocal engagement serves as an example of the Mitchell Institute’s role in fostering international partnerships in the theory and practice of air and space power.

As a founding member of NATO, Italy and its Aeronautica Militare have proven a valuable partner and guarantor of security in the Mediterranean and Europe as a whole. Italy is a leading partner in the F-35 program and contributes a production line to the international effort. It is also at the forefront of innovation in RPA technology and employment.

Gen Deptula stated, “The Italian Air Force is a world-class force that bolsters free world deterrence in Europe and beyond. Collaboration of all NATO air forces is now an absolute requirement if we are going to prevail over aggression by our adversaries in the future.”