Published on 02/06/2024
PISA – On the 78th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic, which took place on 2 June in the presence of the highest civil, military and religious authorities, the Prefect of Pisa, Maria Luisa D’Alessandro proceeded to award the honors of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic awarded by the President of the Republic. Recipients include two Paratroopers8;
General SERGIO CARDEA: In 1988 he attended the 170th ‘Audacity’ course at the Military Academy of Modena. At the end of the training period, he was assigned to the 187th Folgore Parachute Regiment, for which he carried out countless assignments in Italy and abroad. With the role of Platoon Commander he was deployed in Somalia for the ‘Restore Hope’ operation. Under the flag of the 187th Regiment, he participated in overseas operations in the former Yugoslavia, Albania, East Timor, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
In 2007 the General was assigned to the British NATO Rapid Reaction Command stationed in Germany as Plans Staff Officer. In 2010 he was transferred to the 186th Folgore Parachute Regiment as Commander of the 5th El Alamein Battalion, with which he participated in the ISAF operation, in the delicate sector of the Task Force South East. In 2011 he was assigned to the Army General Staff with the role of Section Chief of Operations on the National Territory.
From 12 December 2014 to 25 June 2016 he commanded the 183rd Nembo Parachute Regiment. Since 13 October 2019 he has held the delicate role of Chief of the National Joint Forces cell at the US CENTCOM command in Tampa.
During this period he gave his contribution in the USA IRAN crisis of January 2020 and during the evacuation of non-combatants from Afghanistan in August 2021. From 1 January 2022 he was assigned to the Multinational Division South Vittorio Veneto with the task of Chief of staff.
For his meritorious conduct, the General was awarded a Solemn Commendation by the Chief of SME for the Stabilize operation in East Timor, the Legion of Merit and the US Commendation Medal for his service in Afghanistan and numerous commendations in scope of various training and operational activities. In 2012 he received a Bronze Army Cross for Valor for the brilliant results achieved by the 5th Battalion in Afghanistan.
Lt. Col. ALESSANDRO PALOMBA
From 1987 to 1989 he attended the 169th ‘Pride’ course at the Military Academy of Modena. From 1992 to 1995 he served in the 78th Infantry Regiment ‘Lupi di Toscana’ in Florence, with the role of Platoon Commander. From 1995 to 1997 he was transferred to the 3rd Parachute Battalion ‘Poggio Rusco’ in Florence with the role of Company Commander. During his career he served at the Parachuting Training Center in Pisa, from 1999 to 2001 as Training Section Chief and from 2007 to 2015 as Battalion Commander and Coordinating Officer. Since 2015 he has served at the ‘Folgore’ Parachute Brigade Command with the role of Head of Personnel Office. Over the course of his career he has been deployed in foreign operations in Somalia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan. In 2024 he participated in the Strade Sicure operation in Rome with the role of G1 Cell Leader. During his long and distinguished service in his military career he received numerous honors, commendations and medals.
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