IDGS Liaison Officer Decorated

On the basis of an agreement concluded in 2003 between the Defence Ministries of the two countries, one senior liaison officer holding the rank of colonel will serve on the MoD Defence Staff – within the MoD Defence Planning Directorate – and another one on the IDGS. Col. Luigi Vivona has served as a soldier of the MoD Defence Staff since 2008. His tasks were to strengthen the cooperation on the level of experts between Hungary and Italy, to analyse and share the lessons learned in the joint operations, to keep abreast of the experiences and action plans of the Hungarian EU Presidency as well as the subject matter experts’ (SME) work in connection with the transformation of the Multinational Land Forces (MLF), and to provide assistance for them.

The Defence Minister conferred upon Luigi Vivona the “Golden Grade of the Merit of Service Medal" in recognition of his outstanding work. The colonel will continue his service in his native country, at the Italian North Military Region Headquarters. His position held until now will be occupied by Col. Giuseppe Torterelli, who comes from the Italian Army General Staff, and earlier – in 2000/2001 – completed the HDF General Staff Course too.

Text and Photo: MoD Press Office