Courtesy Photo | Col. Arturo Di Martino assumes command of the Training Wing Sept. 20, 2013, at NATO...... read more read more
By Maureen Geraets-Head
GEILENKIRCHEN, Germany - The Trapani Room at the E-3A Club is filled with guests attending the Training Wing change of command. With the marching in of the colors, the ceremony starts.
Col. Arturo Di Martino, Italian air force, officially assumed command of the Training Wing Sept. 20, 2013, from Lt. Col. Knud Holmsgaard with Maj. Gen. Andrew Mueller, E-3A Component commander, presiding over the ceremony.
“Today, we will hand the responsibility of command of the Training Wing – the responsibility of all Component training - to Colonel Di Martino,” the general said while addressing the audience. “As the Component commander, I depend on the Training Wing to provide us the foundation for success in everything we do; how we execute in the field starts in the Training Wing.”
Shortly after General Mueller expressed his expectations of the Training Wing, the unit's new commander stepped to the podium.
“I am fully aware of the huge responsibilities that are connected with the fulfillment of a Wing Commander’s duties,” Colonel Di Martino stated. “Being in-charge as the Wing commander certainly means to be accountable. Accountable, not only to the component commander, not only to the flag that I’m representing in this multinational environment, but also to the other Wing commanders by giving them the support and output they are expecting from one’s unit in a timely, proper manner, always keeping in mind that no unit is a ‘stand-alone’ reality, since we are all part of a bigger picture.”
Immediately following the speeches, the official party signed the change-of-command certificates. After the national anthems of Germany, Italy and Denmark were played, the ceremony concluded with the retiring of the colors.
Biography - Col. Arturo Di Martino, ITAAF
Col. Arturo Di Martino was born in Catania on January 28, 1969. He joined the Italian Air Force Academy in 1989 and graduated in 1993. He attended the pilot training class 94-11 at Vance Air Force Base and graduated as a pilot in 1994. Assigned to the 41st Anti Submarine Warfare Wing of the Italian air force, stationed in Sigonella, he achieved Combat Readiness training and graduated as a Tactical Coordinator in the ASW role. In 1997, he was assigned to the Italian Air Force Academy as instructor officer for the first class. In 1998, he moved back to Sigonella, where he became aircraft commander (in 1999), instructor pilot (in 2002) and flight check pilot (in 2003).
During his tenure at Sigonella he was appointed as flight commander from 1998-1999, 88th Squadron Training Section Chief from 1999-2003, 86th Air Crew Training Squadron – Training Section Chief from 2003-2007, 86th Air Crew Training Squadron Commander from 2007 to 2008, 88th Squadron Commander from 2008-2009.
He attended the Italian Joint Services Staff College in Rome where he graduated in 2010. Promoted to the rank of colonel in 2010, he was assigned at the Italian air force staff – 1st Division “Organization, Regulations and Personnel Policy”, where he was appointed in September 2009 as deputy chief of the office responsible for the Air Force organizational structure and for the personnel’s management regulations and in 2012 as chief of the office responsible for the management of the civilian personnel working for the Italian air force.
During his service, Col. Di Martino attained the following degrees: Aeronautical Science degree; Political Science degree in 2007, Master degree in International Strategic and Military Studies in 2010, a master's degree in Geopolitics, Economic globalization and International Institutions in 2012.
During his career, Col. Di Martino has also been qualified as flying safety officer by the Superior Institute for Flying Safety, Rome, in 2002, flight check pilot at the Test Flight Division of the Italian air rorce in 2003, CRM Facilitator by CTI in Memphis, Tenn., in 2004.
Col. Di Martino, beyond all the courses provided to all the officers having a similar career profile by the Institute of Aeronautical Military Science in Florence, attended also the following courses: The “Human Factor in Aviation Safety Course” held by the University of Southern California -Viterbi School of Engineering in 2004, the “Military Legal Advisor Course” held by the Center for High Defense Studies, Rome, in 2010, the “Defense Resources Management Course: held by the Defense Resources Managmeent Institute in Monterey, Calif., in 2012.
| Date Taken: | 09.20.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2013 09:00 |
| Story ID: | 114472 |
| Location: | GEILENKIRCHEN, NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN, DE |
| Web Views: | 214 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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