Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone

Born in Arquata Scrivia (Italy) in 1957, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone joined the Italian Navy in 1976, through the Naval Academy, in Livorno.

After graduation, in 1980, he underwent different flight training programs (Italy/USA), and qualified as combat pilot on rotary wing, fixed wing and jet, totaling over 2,500 hours (UH-1L, UH-1N, H3 and Harrier AV8B Plus).

His most significant sea duty assignments have been:

• Flight Commander of MAESTRALE Class Frigates (1986-1987)
• C.O. of Minehunter MILAZZO (1987-1988)
• C.O. of AV8B Squadron (1991-1993) (1997-1998)
• C.O. of Frigate EURO (1996-1997)
• C.O. of Aircraft Carrier GARIBALDI (2002-2004)

His major assignments include:

• Navy General Staff Air Warfare and Naval Air Force Commander
• Commander of the Italian Navy Special Forces (COMSUBIN) (2008-11)
• Admiral Superintendent of the Italian Naval Academy (2012-154)
• Commander of the Italian Joint Special Forces Operations Headquarters (2014-16)
• Commander of the Italian Joint Operations Headquarters (2016-19)
• Chief of the Italian Navy (2019-21)
• Italian Chief of Defense (2021-24)

Since Jan 17, 2025, he is the 34th Chair of the NATO Military Committee (MC, NATO’s highest military authority).
In his role, he is the principal military adviser to the Secretary General, as NATO’s senior military officer, and the principal military spokesperson for the Alliance, on all military matters.
Acting on behalf of the Military Committee, he is the conduit through which the military advice from the Chiefs of Defense of all NATO member countries is presented to the political decision-making bodies, and guidance and directives are issued to the Strategic Commanders (Supreme Allied Commander Europe-SACEUR, and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation-SACT), and the Director General of the International Military Staff-DGIMS.
Admiral Cavo Dragone holds two master’s degrees (Naval and Maritime Sciences, and Political Sciences), he is a qualified military paratrooper and scuba diver, free-fall skydiver and karate black-belt.
Admiral Cavo Dragone is married to Rosa and they have two sons and one daughter: Michele, Umberto and Ginevra Francesca.