Lt. Gen. Maurizio CANTIELLO was born in the northeast of Italy in 1968; he joined the Italian Air Force Academy in 1987.
In 1992, he obtained his military wings at the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training flight school – Sheppard USAF Base – Texas (USA).
He then qualified on the Tornado aircraft, at the Operational Conversion Unit – Trinational Tornado Training Establishment – Cottesmore (UK), and subsequently assigned in 1993 to the 154th Fighter Bomber Reconnaissance Group of the 6th Wing ”Diavoli Rossi » of Ghedi Air base, where he took part in combat flying sorties in NATO operations “Sharp Guard”, “Deny Flight » and « Joint Endeavour” over Bosnia.
In 1997 he was qualified experimental test pilot at the USAF Test Pilot School in Edwards – California (class 97A), and then served for ten years at the Italian Flight Test Center “Reparto Sperimentale Volo”, carrying out testing and experimentation programs on various aircrafts. During this period, he flew as “Solo Display » Pilot in the Tornado aircraft for three years and from 2003 to 2005 he commanded the 311th Flight Test Squadron.
Between 2007 and 2011, he served in Air Force General Staff, 4th Department, managing KC767A, T346A and AARGM procurement programs and then returned to the Experimental Test Wing in 2011, to assume command until 2013.
He then joined the 3rd Department of the Italian Defense General Staff (J5), as Chief of the “Alliances Policy Office”, assisting in matters of military policy, for the Chief of Defense and the Minister, for their participation in the main forums of NATO, European Union and United Nations.
In 2016, he attended the US National Defense University in Fort Mc Nair – Washington (DC), where he obtained a Master’s degree in National Security Strategy (National War College Class 2016).
Promoted to Brigadier General, he joined the staff of the Minister of Defence, as Deputy Chief of cabinet, in the area of operational affairs and subsequently military personnel, legal affairs and litigations.
On 13 November 2019 he assumed the role of Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force Logistics Command and, shortly afterwards, the leadership of a COVID19 Task Force for the Air Force, established to tackle the pandemic crisis.
From August 2021 to August 2024, he served at the Italian Embassy in Washington D.C. as Defense and Defense Cooperation Attaché, with main accreditation in the United States of America and secondary accreditation in Canada and Mexico.
After returning from the US, he became the Chief of the Air Force Administrative Responsibility Centre, managing procurement of goods, services and infrastructures for the Air Force.
As of June 20, 2025, he is the Director for the Employment of Military Personnel of the Air Force. He holds a Silver Medal for Aeronautical Valor, he is an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and an Officer of the Legion of Merit of the United States of America.
Lt. Gen. Maurizio Cantiello flew more than 3,600 flying hours on 54 different types of aircrafts and helicopters and has logged 60 combat flying hours.
