Brigadier General Federico Bernacca was was promoted Captain in 2001 and then assigned to the 186th Para Regiment “FOLGORE” in Siena, where he served, from 2001 to 2007, as Company Commander and S3 Staff Officer for Plans and Operations. In 2007 he attended the 132nd Army Basic and Advanced Staff Course in Turin. From 2008 to 2011 he served as Staff Officer to the III Division – Policy and Planning of the Italian Defence General Staff. In 2009 he was promoted Major. In 2010-2011, he attended the 13th Joint Services Command and Staff Course at the Centre for High Defence Studies in Rome. From 2011 to 2014 he was Staff Officer at the Force Planning Development and Integration Branch of the Force and Budget Planning Division of the Italian Army General Staff. In 2013 he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel. In 2014 he returned to 186th “FOLGORE” Para Regiment as Commander of the 5th Para Battalion “EL ALAMEIN”.

In 2016 he was appointed Chief NATO/EU Planning Section – Planning Office of the III Division – General Planning of the Italian Army General Staff. In 2018 he was promoted Colonel. In 2018-2019 he attended the AY2019 Resident Course of the US Army War College (USAWC) in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA. In 2019-2021 he served as Commander of the 186th Para Regiment “FOLGORE” in Siena. In 2021-2023 he was appointed as Head of Office in the Cabinet of the Italian Chief of Defence Staff in Rome. In January 2023 he was promoted Brigadier General.

As regards his operational assignments, he took part in: multinational peace-enforcement operation “STABILISE” in East Timor (1999-2000 plt. Cmdr.), three NATO stability operations in Kosovo (2001-2002 co. Cmdr., 2004 co. Cmdr. and 2015-2016 MA to COMKFOR), NATO Over the Horizon Forces Operational Rehearsal in Bosnia Herzegovina (2003 co. Cmdr.) and Kosovo (2005 SO S3), African Union – Cease Fire Commission operation in Darfur – Sudan (2004-2005 EU Military Observer), operation “LEONTE” within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (2007 MA to Sector West Cmdr.), NATO ISAF in Afghanistan (2008-2009 AdC to COS ISAF HQ); NATO RSM in Afghanistan (2021 Task Force Cmdr.).

His education comprises: a Political Science Postgraduate Degree, an International Relations and Diplomacy Postgraduate Degree, a Postgraduate Master in Strategic Sciences, a Second Level Master in Strategic Studies. He graduated from the USAWC as “Superior Graduate” and was awarded the USAWC Diploma and the Master of Strategic Studies. His professional educational background also includes: NATO Command and Control Warfare and Information Operations Course, NATO Defence Planning Course at NATO School in Oberammergau, NATO Operations Planning Course and Combat Arms Recognition Course at the International Special Training Centre (ISTC) in Pfullendorf, Germany and ISAF Counterinsurgency Leader Course in Kabul, Afghanistan. He published several professional articles in the Italian Army Review.

His awards include: Italian Military Paratrooper badge; US Army Parachute qualification badge; Belgian Army Parachute qualification badge; Bronze Cross to the Italian Army Merit; Knight of the Order to the Merit of the Italian Republic; Italian Army Bronze Meritorious Medal for Long Parachute Activity (10 years); Italian Army Long Command Medal (10 years); Italian Army Cross for Service Seniority (25 years); Italian Army Cross for peace-keeping operations (more than 3 awards); Italian Army Cross for operations in Afghanistan; Italian Army Cross for Cooperative Security operations; Italian Army Cross for Homeland Security operations; 2 NATO Commemorative Medals for operations in Afghanistan (ISAF and RSM); NATO Commemorative Medal for operations in Kosovo; NATO Commemorative Medal for operations in Kosovo (2003-2010); NATO Commemorative Medal for operations in the Balkans; US Army Achievement Medal; Australian Commemorative Medal for operations in East Timor; African Union Commemorative Medal for operations in Sudan; United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Commemorative Medal.