Claudio Graziano

Italian general (1953–2024)

Claudio Graziano

Graziano in 2011

Born| (1953-11-22)22 November 1953
Turin, Italy
Died| 17 June 2024(2024-06-17) (aged 70)
Rome, Italy
Allegiance|  Italy
European Union
Service / branch|  Esercito Italiano
Years of service| 1972–2022
Rank|  General
Commands| 2nd Alpini Regiment
'Taurinense' Alpine Brigade
UNIFIL
Chief of Staff (Army)
Chief of Defence Staff
EU Military Committee
Battles / wars| War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Awards|  Knight Grand Cross, OMRI
Grand Officer, OMI
Silver Valour Medal (Army)
Commander, Legion of Merit
Officer, Legion of Honour
Spouse(s)| Marisa Lanucara

General Claudio Graziano (22 November 1953 – 17 June 2024) was an Italian Army officer who served as Chairman of the European Union Military Committee.

Graziano was a Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), serving in the position between 2007 and 2010.[1] On 6 December 2011, he became the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army. From 28 February 2015 to 6 November 2018, Graziano served as the Chief of Defence Staff of the Italian Armed Forces.[2]

## Early life and education

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Graziano was born on November 22, 1953, in Turin, Italy. Graziano attended the Military Academy of Modena, from 1972 to 1974, and the Application School of Turin, from 1974 to 1976, where he obtained a degree in Military Strategic Sciences.[3]

## Career

[edit]

From 16 May 2022 to 17 June 2024 he was President of Fincantieri and from 28 September 2022 he was President of Assonave (Associazione Nazionale dell’industria navalmeccanica).[4]

## Personal life

[edit]

Graziano lived in Rome with his wife Marisa Lanucara, who died in 2023. Graziano had no children.[5]

### Death, funeral and investigation

[edit]

Graziano was found dead from a gunshot wound in his home in Rome on 17 June 2024.[6] He left a suicide note dedicated to his wife who had died the previous year.[7]

The funeral took place on the morning of June 21, 2024, in the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Maritiri, in Piazza della Repubblica, Rome. All the bodies of the Italian Army and the Italian armed forces were lined up for the last tribute, among those present were the President of the Senate of the Italian Republic Ignazio La Russa, the Defense minister Guido Crosetto, the Interior minister Matteo Piantedosi and the Foreign minister Antonio Tajani.[8][9][10]

Due to his past in the Italian Army and the important role he held as president of Fincantieri, the necessary investigations into his death were opened.[11][12] Among the hypotheses examined there was also incitement to suicide by foreign secret agents.[13][14] Graziano played a key role in strengthening European Defence, which he said can act as a deterrent or can contribute to de-escalation.[15]

## Publications

[edit]

* Missione. Dalla guerra fredda alla difesa europea, with Marco Valerio Lo Prete, Luiss, 2022, ISBN 978-8861057272

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "MAJOR GENERAL CLAUDIO GRAZIANO APPOINTED AS FORCE COMMANDER OF UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON (UNIFIL)". January 23, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
2. ^ "Chief of Defence". Italian Armed Forces. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
3. ^ "Claudio Graziano". fincantieri.com. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
4. ^ "Claudio Graziano". fincantieri.com. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
5. ^ "Trovato morto il presidente di Fincantieri, il generale Claudio Graziano". ansa.it. ansa.it. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
6. ^ "Morto il generale Graziano, ex capo di stato maggiore e presidente di Fincantieri". tgcom24.mediaset.it. tgcom24.mediaset.it. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
7. ^ "Fincantieri, trovato morto in casa il presidente Graziano. Ha lasciato un biglietto: "Senza mia moglie ho perso la strada"". ilsecoloxix.it. ilsecoloxix.it. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
8. ^ "Folla ai funerali del generale Claudio Graziano presidente di Fincantieri a Roma". tg24.sky.it. tg24.sky.it. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
9. ^ "Addio al generale Claudio Graziano: i funerali a Roma". tgcom24.mediaset.it. tgcom24.mediaset.it. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
10. ^ "Funerali di Graziano, le commosse parole di La Russa (e l'abbraccio con Crosetto)". liberoquotidiano.it. liberoquotidiano.it. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
11. ^ "Claudio Graziano, dai vertici militari alla presidenza di Fincantieri: chi era il generale". tg24.sky.it. tg24.sky.it. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
12. ^ "Trovato morto il presidente di Fincantieri, il generale Claudio Graziano". ansa.it. ansa.it. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
13. ^ "Chi era Claudio Graziano. L'alpino ostinato che ha innovato la Difesa in Italia. E gettato le basi per quella comune in Europa". repubblica.it. repubblica.it. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
14. ^ "Addio al presidente di Fincantieri. Aveva 70 anni". rainews.it. rainews.it. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
15. ^ "L'ultima intervista a Claudio Graziano: "L'Europa della difesa può contribuire alla de-escalation"". lastampa.it/. lastampa.it/. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Claudio Graziano.

Military offices

Preceded by

Michail Kostarakos

|  Chairman of the EU Military Committee
2018–2022  | Succeeded by

Robert Brieger

Preceded by

Luigi Binelli Mantelli

|  Chief of the Defence Staff
2015–2018  | Succeeded by

Enzo Vecciarelli

Preceded by

Giuseppe Valotto

|  Chief of Staff of the Italian Army
2011–2015  | Succeeded by

Danilo Errico

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany

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