Admiral Paolo Treu’s distinguished naval journey began in the cockpit, where he earned multi-engine aircraft and helicopter licenses from the U.S. Navy, along with advanced jet qualifications—including the elite certification for catapult launches and arrested landings on aircraft carriers. Over the decades, he commanded some of the Navy’s most storied assets: the minehunter Milazzo, the Harrier Squadron, the frigate Espero, the aircraft carrier Garibaldi, the Navy Air Forces, and the High Seas Forces alongside the 30th Naval Group, formed for the historic campaign Il Sistema Paese in Movimento (The Country System in Motion). In a career spanning 44 years, Admiral Treu rose to the pinnacle of command, concluding his service on July 15, 2021, as Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet—the operational heart of the Italian Navy—where he led a force of nearly 18,000 women and men. His exceptional service has been recognized with some of the nation’s highest honors, including Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Officer of the Military Order of Italy and the Navy Gold Medal of Merit.