Colonel Giovanni Luigi ISONI was born in Sassari (Sardinia) in 1976. He joined the Italian Army in 1992 to
complete his high school studies at the “Nunziatella” Military School in Naples.
Then in 1995 he attended the regular course at the Military Accademy, receiving his commission as Infantry
2ND Lieutenant in 1997. Upon completion of his Officer’s training was appointed 1ST Lieutenant in the
Parachute Brigade.
In 2000 he applied for the SOF Selection and Training Course and successfully completed in 2003.
Staff Appointments include G3 at the 9TH Italian SOF Regiment in Leghorn; J3 OPSCoord at ISAF SOF in
Afghanistan; J3 Section Head at the Italian SOF Joint Operational HQ in Rome; J5 Director at ISAF SOF in
Afghanistan; he served also three years (from august 2018 to july 2021) as Military Assistant to Chief Of
Staff - SHAPE at NATO in Mons (Belgium).
He has commanded at three ranks: as a Lieutenant a SOF Operational Detachment; as a Captain one of the
SOF Companies; as Lieutenant- Colonel the SOF Operational Battallion. In all these appointments he has
been continually deployed with his units and/or conducting National and International Training and
Exercises.
His operational tours include:
Iraq Operation Antica Babilonia (2004)
NATO Operation ISAF (Afghanistan, 2006,2007,2008,2009, 2011)
Iraq Operation Inherent Resolve (2017)
In 2010 he attended the Army Staff College in Turin and in 2014 he attended the Joint Staff College in
Rome.
Colonel Giovanni Luigi ISONI holds a University Degree in Political Science at University of Turin and a
Master Degree in Stategic Sciences at University Roma 3.
Since October 2021 he assumed his present duties as 9th Italian SOF Regiment Commanding Officer.
He is married to MRS. Maria Teresa and he has two daughters and one son.