Head of the VI Department - C4I Systems and Transformation, Italian Defence General Staff, Italy
Rear Admiral Francesco Procaccini was born in Camerino, Macerata, Italy, on March 7, 1970. He graduated from the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno in 1993 as a line officer.
Upon graduation, Procaccini embarked aboard the destroyer Mimbelli. In 1997, after graduating from the Naval Postgraduate School in Livorno, he returned to sea aboard the cruiser Vittorio Veneto, where he served for four years, including two as Head of the Weapons Department.
From 2002 to 2005, Procaccini attended the Naval Command School. Upon graduation, he assumed command of the patrol ship Spica, based in Augusta, Sicily. He subsequently served aboard the destroyer Francesco Mimbelli as Head of the Operations Department.
In 2005, after graduating from the Navy War College in Venice, Procaccini was deployed to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in Sinai, headquartered in El Gorah, North Sinai, Egypt. His duties included serving as Vice-Commandant of the Italian Contingent and Naval Advisor to the Force Commander.
In 2008, Procaccini attended the NATO Defense College in Rome. Upon completing the course, he was appointed Military Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe at SHAPE in Belgium, where he served until 2011.
From 2011 to 2012, he commanded the frigate Grecale during Operation Ocean Shield. Promoted to Captain in 2014, Procaccini headed the International Cooperation Board at the Italian Navy General Staff.
Between 2015 and 2017, he commanded the Brindisi Naval Station and the destroyer Andrea Doria.
From August 2017 to October 2022, Procaccini headed the International Relations Office at the Italian Defence General Staff and served as the Italian Military Representative to the EU Military Committee.
From October to December 2022, he headed the General Office of Space and Technological Innovation, which was subsequently incorporated into the C4 and Security Department of the Italian Navy General Staff. Procaccini headed the latter department until January 2024, when the two functions were separated.
On January 1, 2024, Procaccini was promoted to Rear Admiral (Upper Half). In the same month, he became Chief of the C4 and Security Department of the Italian Navy General Staff. Since October 16, [YEAR TO BE CONFIRMED], he has served as Chief of the VI Department of the Italian Defence General Staff.
During his career in the Italian Navy, Procaccini participated in NATO Operation Sharp Guard, the Western European Union's operation in the former Yugoslavia, the Multinational Force and Observers mission in Sinai, Operation Mare Sicuro, and Operation Ocean Shield.
He holds four university degrees in Maritime and Naval Sciences, Computer and Information Science, Political Science and International Relations, and Defence and Security Science.
Procaccini is married to Maria Elena, and they have a son, Edoardo.
