Speaker Bio

Doctor in Political Sciences, international relations, Giorgio Cioni graduated with full marks and laude. He also obtained a master’s degree in Administration and a further master’s degree in European law. Currently, Giorgio Cioni serves in the Defence Investment Division of NATO International Staff as Director of Armament and Aerospace Capabilities, with the responsibility to deliver coherent, coordinated and cross-cutting policy and capability outputs in Land, Maritime Air and Space domains. The Directorate’s plays a leading role in the areas of Integrated Air and Missile Defence, Aviation, Joint Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR) and oversees major NATO capability programs, including the Alliance Ground Surveillance, Air Command and Control, Ballistic Missile Defence, NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control, Alliance Future Surveillance and Control, as well as several multi domain capability projects which embrace emerging and disruptive technologies and unmanned systems. He carries out NATO-wide coordination as JISR Capability Area Manager and, as Chairman of the NATO Aviation Committee and Airworthiness Executive, he acts as NATO’s primary interface with international civil aviation organisations, European and North American aerospace institutions and other relevant regional and global bodies. He is also an Acting Chair of the Integrated Air and Missile Defence Policy Committee and leads the Air C2 Integrated Transition Team tasked to deliver a transition strategy towards the future NATO Air C2 capability. Before joining NATO International Staff in 2002, Dr. Cioni has a distinguished record of military service within the Italian Air Force and the Ministry of Defence focused on international relations, political-military security policies and aerospace matters.