​​​Lieutenant General Pietro Serino was born in Rome on 3 June 1960.

After graduating from Nunziatella Military High School in 1978, he attended the 160th course at the Military Academy of Modena and the School of Applied Army Studies in Turin.

He was commissioned as a Lieutenant into the Signal Corps in 1982. His first assignments were as a platoon leader at the 11th Signal Battalion, as a company commander and as Chief Operations Section. Then he commanded the Battalion Leonessa of the 11th Signal Regiment. On promotion to Colonel, he was appointed Commander of the 1st Signal Regiment, a support unit of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy (NRDC-ITA).

During his career, Lieutenant General Serino attended the Electronic Warfare Officer's Qualification Course, the G-3 Air Officer Course, the basic CIMIC Officer Course, Course 117 at the Italian Army War College (regular and advanced), the Joint Staff College in Rome, and the US Army War College. He obtained a degree and a master's degree in strategic sciences from the University of Turin and a master's degree in strategic sciences from the US Army War College.

He served as a Staff Officer at the Italian Army General Staff as Recruitment and Promotion officer at the 1st Division and as Section Chief at the Office of the Assistant Chief of the Army General Staff and at the General and Financial Planning Division. As a Colonel, he headed the Planning Branch of the Italian Army Staff.

Promoted to Brigadier General in 2007, he served as Military Attaché for the Army at the Italian Embassy in Washington (2007-2010). He then commanded the Signal Brigade and, in August 2011, became Chief of the General and Financial Planning Division of the Italian Army General Staff.

Promoted to Major General in 2012, he was commissioned chief of the Planning and Budget General Office of the Defence General Staff (2013-2016).

He was promoted to Lieutenant General on 1 January 2016.

From February 2016 to March 2017, he was President of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the White Paper for international security and defence.

From 1 February 2017 to 30 October 2018, he headed the Training and Doctrine Command of the Army in Rome.

From 31 October 2018 to 26 February 2021, he served as the Chief of the Minister's Office.

He took up the appointment of Chief of the Army General Staff on 27 February 2021.

Awards and decorations:

• Grand Cross Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic;
• Mauritian Medal of Merit for fifty years of Military Service;
• Italian Red Cross Gold Medal of Merit;
• Golden Medal of Merit for Long Command;
• Golden Cross with a star for length of service;
• Defence General Staff Joint Forces Medal of Honour;
• U.S. Department of Defence Legion of Merit Officer;
• “Grand Officer” of the Ordem do Merito Militar of Federative Republic of Brazil.
  

Lieutenant General Pietro Serino is the father of two sons: Daniele and Francesco.

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