From Tom Kington, Defense News:  Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola, the former Italian military chief of staff, has been named Italy’s new defense minister, replacing Ignazio La Russa. . . .

Currently serving as the chairman of NATO’s military committee, Naples-born Di Paola commanded Italian Navy submarines and the aircraft carrier Garibaldi before being seconded to NATO in Norfolk, Va., for three years before returning to the Navy General Staff.

In 2001, he was appointed Italy’s procurement chief before becoming Italian chief of staff in 2004, a post he held for four years when he ran Italy’s contribution to missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan and oversaw Italy’s military presence in southern Iraq.

From Corriere della Sera:  The Monti government will be sworn in on Wednesday afternoon at 5 pm but one of its most important members will be missing. Foreign minister Giulio Terzi di Santagata was Italy’s ambassador in Washington until Wednesday morning. He was informed of his career change by a phone call from Rome that reached him in the early hours but the logistics of his return make him unable to be present in the Salone delle Feste at 5 pm. His swearing-in has been postponed until Thursday morning.  (photo: NATO)

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