Lieutenant Colonel Luca Gagliardi is the Director of Training Centre, NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRF), stationed at the Italian Air Force Base (ITAF), Sigonella, Italy.
He is an Italian Air Force Officer coming from the regular courses of the Air Force Academy that he joined in 1998. Prior to his current assignment, Lt Col Gagliardi was posted as a NATO Global Hawk pilot at the Flying Squadron NISRF, where he is still committed for flying activity. He is an Instructor Pilot and Evaluator on the NATO RQ-4D Phoneix aircraft.
He graduated from the Italian Air Force Academy in 2002, where he received a bachelors degree in Political Science with an international specialization. In 2003, he joined The Euro Joint Jet Pilot Training program (ENJJPT) at Sheppard AFB, Texas. In 2004, after receiving his wings, he was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 46th Air Brigade in Pisa AFB, Italy flying the C130J, where he flew about 2,500 flying hours as a tactical and strategic Airlift crew, delivering military personnel and equipment to operational theatres (Afghanistan, Iraq) and Africa. Prior to this assignment, Lt Col Gagliardi was stationed at NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force (NAEW&CF) Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany, where he flew also the E3-A as an Aircraft Commander and as an Instructor pilot. He also was assigned, during this period, to the NAEW HQ Force Headquarters Capability division (FHC) as a Staff Officer in charge of the Standardization and Evaluation section. He had the honor to serve NATO and support missions also from a manned air platform. He has over 1,500 flying hours as pilot in the NATO AWACS. In 2019 he joined NISRF.
He holds a Bachelor of Political Science degree in international affairs from the University of Naples, Italy. He also holds a Master of Leadership and Strategic Analysis from University of Florence, Italy. His military education includes the Italian Air Force Academy and the Advanced Air Force Officer School.
Lt Col Gagliardi holds the rating of a total of more than 4,000 flying hours as pilot in the SF260AM, T-37, T-38, C130J, C130J-30, E3-A AWACS and NATO RQ-4D, including almost 500 hours in combat. His awards and decorations include the Nato Meritorious Service Medal, Commemorative cross for Afghanistan and Iraq operation theatres, ISAF non article 5 Medal, Operation Unified Protector Medal, long term air navigation silver star service Medal and Civil Protection Department Medal.
He is married to Francesca and He has two children, Davide and Sofia.