Capt. Giuseppe Lai

• Deputy Military Advisor to the
• President of the Council of Ministers

Captain Giuseppe Lai was born in Ozieri (Sardinia Island, Italy) on 11 December 1975 and attended the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno from 1994 to 1998.
His first seagoing appointment was on the sailing ship “Orsa Maggiore”; this included a five-month training deployment to Northern Europe and South America (August-December 1998).
Promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade, he embarked on the Italian Frigate “Zeffiro” (1999-2001) as the Weapon Department Officer.
After specializing in Naval Gunfire and qualifying as a Principal Warfare Officer, from 2003 to 2005 he was commissioned as a Lieutenant and appointed to the Destroyer “Luigi Durand de la Penne” as Gunnery Officer. This period included Basic Operational Sea Training at FOST in UK (2004).
In 2005 he was the head of the weapons department onboard CVH “Giuseppe Garibaldi” (2005-2006) and took part to the LEONTE Operation in Lebanon in 2006.
From August 2007 to August 2008, he assumed Command of the Coastal Patrol Vessel “Staffetta”, operating in the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt) as part of the Maritime Component of the Multinational Force & Observers (MFO).
From September 2008 to June 2011, he was Aid de Camp to the Commander Italian Maritime Forces (COMITMARFOR). Promoted Lieutenant Commander, in 2011 he deployed onboard CVH “Garibaldi” to Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, the NATO response to the Libya crisis.
From October 2011 to August 2013, he held the position of Superintendent to the Midshipmen at the Naval Academy.
Promoted Commander, from July 2014 to May 2015 he was assigned as Staff Officer to the Operation Department within the Italian Navy General Staff. This was followed by his second Flags appointment from May 2015 to August 2017, which this time was to the Operation SOPHIA Commander responsible for EUNAVFOR MED Operation.
From September 2017 to September 2018, he assumed Command of the Anti-Submarine Frigate “Carlo Margottini”, deployed as the Flagship to EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA from April to August 2018.
From October 2018 to October 2020, he was assigned as the Strategic Direction Section Head within the Italian Defence General Staff – Plans and Policy Department.
Promoted Captain, from December 2020 to August 2023 he has been appointed as the Italian Liaison Officer to the FW Secretariat within the US Joint Staff Strategy, Plans & Policy Directorate – Global Integration Division.
From September 2023 to June 2025, he assumed Command of the Italian Navy Training Ship “Amerigo Vespucci” during the World Tour 2023-2025.
From July 2025 he has been appointed as Deputy Military Advisor to the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Government.
In addition to his specialized courses, he attended the Naval Command School in Augusta (2007), the General Staff Course at the Naval War College in Venice (2007) and the Joint Command and General Staff Course (2013-2014) at the Baltic Defense College in Tartu, Estonia.