EUROPEAN PERSONNEL RECOVERY CENTRE
COMMANDER
Col. Pil. Domenico Fanelli (ITAF)
Born in 1966 in Bari, Col Fanelli joined the Air Force Academy in 1986
as a cadet of the 4th Generation of “Hawk” classes and graduated in
1990.
In 1990 he earned his Pilot Wings on MB339 at Jet School Lecce AFB
and in 1991 he got the Military Helicopter Qualification at Joint
Helicopter School Frosinone AFB.
From 1992 to 2004 he served as helicopter AGUSTA HH3F
SAR/COMBAT SAR pilot at 85th Squadron in Ciampino AFB where he
had been in charge of several duties: Chief of Intelligence Squadron
Section, Commander of 142nd Flight, Chief of the Squadron Training
Section and Chief of the Squadron Operation Section. In that period he
took part at the NATO Operations in Kosovo and Yugoslavia.
From 2002 Col. Fanelli is qualified as Flying Instructor for Operation and Tactics SAR and C/SAR
and he has been flying over 2500 flying hours on different types of airplane and helicopter.
From 2004 to 2006 he has been appointed as 84 th Combat SAR Squadron Commander Brindisi
AFB.
In 2006 he was posted as Chief of 15th Wing Operational Staff in Pratica di Mare (Rome). He
participated at the Italian Military Operations in Iraq as Helicopter Squadron Commander and
Chief of the Operational Staff of the Italian Joint Air Task Group (JATG) in Tallil AFB (Nassiriya).
From 2007 to 2009 he has been appointed as Chief of the “J3 Air” Section of the Italian Joint
Special Operation Head Quarter (COFS-Comando Operativo Interforze per le Operazioni delle
Forze Speciali).
In November 2009 he was posted as Chief of the Office “Air Support” at the ITAF 1 st Special
Operations Air Brigade.
From August 2010 to July 2013 he was the Chief of Staff of the European Air Group (COS EAG) in
High Wycombe (UK).
From July 2013 to June 2015 Col Fanelli was leading the Implementation Team for the initiation of
the European Personnel Recovery Center (EPRC), co-located with the EAG in High Wycombe
and in July 2015 he became the Commander of the European Personnel Recovery Centre in
Poggio Renatico. ITA.
Col. Fanelli is married to Annalisa and has two children: Andrea and Giorgia.
Promotions
Second Lieutenant 13/09/1988
First Lieutenant 13/03/1990
Captain 13/03/1994
Major 01/01/2000
Lieutenant Colonel 01/01/2004
Colonel 01/07/2008
Courses
th
2009 114 Course Nato Defence College – NATO School, Rome
Awards
st
Gold Medal for 25 years of Military Service Medal for Long Air Navigation -1 Grade (Gold) NATO
Medal – operations in ex-Yugoslavia NATO Medal – Kosovo Medal for Peace Support Ops in Iraq
Gold Medal for Air Crew involved in War Operations Commemorative Medal for peace operations
1986
1996
1997
1998
2000
2003
2007
2008
2008
Corso “Falco 4°” -Air Force Academy, Pozzuoli
60th Junior Officer Course – Air War College, Florence
Tactical Leadership Programme – COMAO, Florennes
Crew Resource Management Training Course, Alghero
Aircrew Survival Course, International LRPP School, Pfullendorf
Advanced Course – Air War College, Florence
NATO Special Operation Aviation Planning Course (SOAPC) – NATO School, Oberammergau
Military Parachute License, Pisa
NATO Combined Joint Force Special Operation Component Command (CJFSOCC) Staff
Officer Course – Joint War Preparation Center (JWPC), Ramstein