Maj. Gen. Cillo was born in Fano on 6th December 1966, attended the 167th course of the Military Academy in Modena and, subsequently, the School of Applied Military Sciences in Turin.
After being commissioned in 1989, he was posted to “Serenissima" Lagunari Regiment, in Venice, where he was assigned command of a platoon.
From 1991 to 1993 he was employed as platoon leader and added teacher within the Military Academy, in Modena. At the end of the tour, he was again posted to Lagunari “Serenissima" Regiment, where he acted as Officer Commanding a Company, first, then as 2nd Adjutant and, finally, as S3.
In 1998, after attending the 124th staff course at the War School in Civitavecchia, he was deployed to “Salamandre" Div. HQ in Mostar (BiH), where he acted as CIMIC staff officer.
In 1999 he deployed within operation “Joint Guardian" in Kosovo, as Chief Tactical Operation Centre of “Serenissima" Lagunari Regiment. He was subsequently designated to attend the Command and Staff College of United States Marine Corps in Quantico VA and, after returning, he attended the 5th Upper Joint Staff Course and the Master of international military-strategic studies at Joint Superior Staff Institute in Rome.
At the end of this cycle of studies he was posted to the Army HQ as Staff officer in the Future Plans section of the Plans Office.
In august 2004 he was posted, as staff officer, to the Army Chief of Staff's Staff Section of the General Office, and subsequently (2005) to the Lagunari “Serenissima" Regiment as Battalion Commander.
From November 2006 to April 2007, after the commencement of operation “Leonte", he operated in Lebanon within United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as battalion Commander of ITALBATT1, land manoeuvre unit based on Lagunari “Serenissima" Regiment.
In June 2007 he started his duty as chief of international Military Policy Section within the MoD Cabinet in Rome and subsequently became the 43th Commander of Lagunari Serenissima Regiment in Venice-Mestre.
In August 2010 he was transferred to the MoD cabinet as Chief of the 1st office.
Promoted Brig. General on 1st July 2015, from 23th October he commanded the “Pozzuolo del Friuli" Cavalry Brigade up to 10th November 2017, to subsequently become deputy Commander of “Friuli" Division. From 17th October 2016 to 26th April 2017 he commanded, in Lebanon, UNIFIL's Sector West.
From 24th September 2018 he acted as Chief of Staff of Northern Operational Forces Command and, from 27th April 2020, also held the post of Territorial deputy Commander. On 18th September 2020, within the same command, he also was appointed deputy Commander for Territory.
Promoted Major General on 1st January 2021, on 16th April 2021 he became commander for the territory within Northern Operational Forces command.
On 1st January 2023 he became Territorial Area Commander within the same command.
On 28th September 2025 he became Commander of the Northern Operational Forces Command and, on 30th September, Northern Territorial Command.
He has a degree in Strategic Studies, one in Political Sciences, achieved at Padua University, and one in International Studies, at Trieste University. He also has a Master in Strategic Studies. He speaks English and French.
Due to his service he holds an Army Meritorious Bronze Star, a Commemorative Medal for operations in Bosnia, Kosovo and Lebanon, the Commemorative Cross for Homeland Operations, Commemorative Medal frome the French Republic for former Yugoslavia and golden cross for seniority. He is also Commander Of Meritorious Order of the ITalian Republic with Golden Swords
He is married to mrs. Sandra.