High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy congratulates Giovanni GUMIERO on taking office as EU Force Commander of EUNAVFOR Somalia
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, December 14, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Catherine ASHTON, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, congratulated today Rear Admiral Giovanni GUMIERO, from Italy, on taking office as the new EU Force Commander for EUNAVFOR Somalia / Operation ATALANTA. He succeeds Commodore Pieter BINDT, from the Netherlands. The High Representative made the following comments:
“I would like to congratulate Rear Admiral Giovanni GUMIERO on taking office as the new EU Force Commander for EUNAVFOR Somalia.
His excellent background in the Italian Navy as well as the experience and responsibilities he had at international level make him most suitable for this position. Rear Admiral GUMIERO can count on my full support and that of the European Union as a whole in the accomplishment of his new duties.
His taking of office coincides with the first anniversary of EUNAVFOR. The first naval operation ever conducted by the European Union is significantly contributing to the protection of vessels of the World Food Programme delivering food aid to the displaced people in Somalia and to the protection of vessels sailing in a very wide area comprising the south of the Red Sea and part of the Indian Ocean. I would like to recall that EUNAVFOR Somalia is part of the global action by the EU in the Horn of Africa to deal with the Somali crisis in particular.
I also seize the opportunity to express my most sincere thanks to Commodore Pieter BINDT for the excellent job he performed during his mandate as EU Force Commander for EUNAVFOR Somalia.”
Rear-Admiral Giovanni GUMIERO
Nationality: Italian
Date of birth: 1955
EDUCATION
Degree in Maritime and Naval Sciences
Language skills: Italian (mother tongue), French, Spanish, English
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Since 13 December 2009 EU Force Commander, EUNAVFOR – Operation ATALANTA
September – December 2009 Deputy Commander, COMITMARFOR
July 2008 – July 2009 Commander, Standing NATO Maritime Group 2
September 2007 – July 2008 Commander, Minesweepers Force Command
April 2004 – September 2007 Head of the International Relations Office, Italian Defence General Staff
November 2002 – April 2004 Head of 1st Naval Policy Office, Italian Navy General Staff
October 2001 – October 2002 Commanding Officer, Cruiser “Vittorio Veneto”
January 2000 – September 2001 Head of the NATO/EU/WEU Forces Planning Section, Italian Defence General Staff
October – November 1999 Officer to 1st NATO/WEU Naval Policy Office, Italian Navy General Staff
September 1996 – August 1999 Supreme Allied Command Atlantic, Norfolk – Liaison Officer and Italian Maritime Military Representation – Naval Doctrine Command
October 1994 – September 1995 Head of Operations Service, Submarines Command; and Reserve Commander, 1st Submarines Group Command – Reserve Nucleus
September 1993 – August 1994 Commanding Officer, Corvette “Danaide”
August 1991 – August 1993 Officer to Activities Planning Section, CinC Naval Fleet/Central Mediterranean Command – Operations Office
September 1989 – July 1991 Commanding Officer, Submarine “Sauro”
September 1987 – September 1989 Executive Officer and Security Officer, Submarine “Sauro”
September 1986 – September 1987 Commanding Officer, Submarine “R.Romei”
September 1985 – September 1986 Executive Officer, Submarine “R.Romei”
July 1983 – August 1985 ASW/Fire Control Officer, Submarine “Marconi”
August 1979 – July 1982 Operations Officer, Submarine “Toti”
SOURCE
European Council
