AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Tad Clark, 31st Fighter Wing commander, alongside Italian Air Force Col. Marco Schiattoni, Italian Base commander, hosted Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy, and Robert Needham, consul general Milan, at Aviano Air Base, Italy, July 19.
The Wing is in the FVG region of Italy and is the only U.S. fighter wing south of the Alps, making it critical to operations in NATO’s southern region.
“It is an honor for the Comando Aeroporto Aviano to host President Fedriga and Consul General Needham and show them the “Pagliano e Gori” airport, that hosts and collaborates daily with one of the most important U.S. Air Force entities in Europe,” said Schiattoni.
This visit was a first for Fedriga since he became president of FVG in 2018. It was an opportunity for Fedriga to receive a firsthand look at the mission of the Wing and the partnership between the base and the local community.
“We are thankful for the strong community support we have received over the nearly 30 years that the 31st Fighter Wing has been at Aviano,” said Clark. “Together with our wonderful Italian Air Force hosts, the people of this region have long maintained strong support for the men and women of this Wing. They have welcomed and hosted thousands of families and have been instrumental in helping our Wyvern Nation Family thrive as members of the community.”
The visit provided an up-close perspective to Fedriga and Needham on how the Wing executes the mission, enabling interoperability between Ally and partner nations and the importance of working together to ensure regional security.