Change at the Top of the Special Forces: General Manzone New Commander of COMFOSE

On September 5, at the Military Complex "Ten. MOVM Dario Vitali" in Pisa, the solemn ceremony marking the handover of command of the Italian Army Special Forces (COMFOSE) took place. Brigadier General Paratrooper Acquirer Andrea Vicari officially passed the baton to Brigadier General Paratrooper Alpino Marco Manzone.

The handover was preceded, on September 3, by a meeting at the Prefecture of Pisa, where Prefect Maria Luisa D’Alessandro welcomed Generals Vicari and Manzone, further strengthening the institutional ties between the Armed Forces and the territory, emphasizing the crucial role of special forces in national and international security.

Brigadier General Andrea Vicari, the outgoing commander, has a career rich in significant experiences both nationally and internationally. From 2018 to 2019, he was Commander of the 185th RRAO Folgore Special Forces Regiment, in addition to serving at the Army General Staff and the Defense General Staff in Rome. His skills were further enhanced by his service at the NATO Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia (USA), where he worked in an international context closely with the armed forces of other NATO member countries. He also participated in numerous operational missions abroad.

Brigadier General Marco Manzone, originally from Asti, takes command of COMFOSE with a wealth of command experiences that make him a prominent figure in the Italian Armed Forces. From 2019 to 2021, he commanded the prestigious special forces unit 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment and boasts numerous command and staff assignments with the Alpine Troops and the Army General Staff. Internationally, he served at the NRDC-ITA Multinational Command in Solbiate Olona and, like his predecessor, at the NATO Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia.

His career has taken him to various operational theaters, including Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Kosovo, where he demonstrated his capabilities as a Commander in high-criticality contexts. The handover ceremony was attended by numerous guests, including a representation from the ANA Section of Asti, the hometown of the new commander. In particular, councilor Giorgio Gianuzzi and other section members, with banner and pennant, wanted to be present to celebrate one of their fellow countrymen at such an important moment.

BrigataFolgore.net congratulates General Manzone on the prestigious appointment as Commander of COMFOSE. Congratulations Commander!