Italian takes command at sea of EU anti-piracy operation
(B2 - exclusive) The EU anti-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden (EUNAVFOR Atalanta) will have a new area commander. The Rear Admiral Simone Malvagna is expected to succeed Rear Admiral Fabio Gregori as of April 5, 2018. The decision is expected to be endorsed by the Political and Security Committee (PSC) on Tuesday (March 27).
On board of Carlo Margottini
Simone Malvagna will command the operation at sea aboard theITS Carlo Margottini (F-592), the third of the FREMM-class multi-role frigates delivered to the Italian Navy, based in the port of La Spezia and belonging to the 2nd Naval Group. In particular, he was for a year the commanding officer of the San Giusto (L-9894) from October 2014 to October 2015 and several times engaged in national rescue operations in the Mediterranean Mare Nostrum et Safe Sea.
An officer specializing in weapons and scuba diving
Born in Catania on November 8, 1968, he spent his childhood in Syracuse (Sicily). A graduate of the Naval Institute of Syracuse, he studied at the Naval Academy (1987-1991), continued his training aboard the Italian frigate Aliseo (F-574, Maestrale class), and earned the Weapons and Missile Systems Officer qualification. From 1992 to 1994, he was an 'operations - weapons' officer then, in 1995, in charge of the 'weapons' branch of the frigate Espero (F-576). During the same period, he underwent training at the Special Operations Center (Naval Special Ops Center) then as a 'safety dive operator' at the Navy Training Center.
Command posts aboard theUrania, Spica and theAlcyone
Specialized in the direction of arms with the rank of lieutenant, Simone Malvagna served as chief of weapons and chief of submarine operations from 1996 to 1997 aboard corvette Urania. After completing the 23rd Staff Course at Naval War College from Livorno and the 202nd session of the Naval Command School, he obtained his first command aboard the high seas patrol boat Spica from 1999 to 2000. He was then commander of the corvette Alcyone (2000-2001), engaged in the activities of the School of Command and learning maneuver officers.
The MFO in the Sinai and the maritime component of UNIFIL
From July 2001 to August 2002, he was assigned to the Multinational Peacekeeping Force (MFO) in Sinai (Egypt), as a senior naval officer and adviser to the force of the naval headquarters in El Gorah . He also serves as deputy commander of the Italian contingent. After an assignment in Italy at the cadet school "F. Morosini "in Venice (2002 to 2005), he became a commander and became a staff officer in the Training Office of the General Staff of Italian Defense (2005 to 2008). In October 2008, he resumed service at sea as commanding officer aboard the Sirocco (F-573), which serves as the flagship of the maritime component of UNIFIL (the United Nations force in Lebanon). From October 2009 to October 2010, he commanded a new class of ships, the Commander Borsini (P-491), and finds the UNIFIL, since this newly arrived ship in the Italian fleet serves as a flagship.
Responsible and professor of the "Artillery and missiles" branch of studies at the Naval Academy (October 2010 - October 2014), after a stint in command of the landing ship San Giusto, he became in September 2015, the Head of State - major of the 3rd naval group (amphibious).
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
