JAPCC Says Farewell to Air Cdre Spit, Welcomes Brig Gen Sgamba

Kalkar, 15 August 2018. During a small outdoor ceremony, JAPCC personnel bid farewell to Air Cdre Madeleine Spit, Royal Netherlands Air Force, on the completion of her four-year tour as the Centre’s first “solo” Assistant Director. Lt Gen Wundrak, the JAPCC Executive Director, delivered remarks noting Air Cdre Spit’s ardent advocacy for NATO and for the JAPCC. He pointed out that while it was true that previously the position had been filled by two generals, in the time with Air Cdre Spit in the seat, he did not notice that one was missing, because of her great energy and enthusiasm shouldering the workload. Gen Wundrak noted the importance of her leadership at many Conferences, Working Groups and Exercises as well as her energization of the JAPCC’s main synergizing events—the Think Tank Forum and the Air and Space Power Network meeting. Gen Wundrak released Air Cdre Spit from the duties of Assistant Director and transferred responsibility of the position to Brig Gen Giuseppe Sgamba, of the Italian Air Force. Gen Wundrak noted that Gen Sgamba “has a great deal of experience that is relevant to the work we are doing here in the JAPCC,” including his time flying and developing several aircraft programs from TORNADO to EUROFIGHTER to F-35 and commanding various units. Most recently, Brig Gen Sgamba was responsible for Information and Security for Intelligence Policy, Electronic Warefare, Asymmetric Threats and Satellite Earth Observation for the Italian Defence General Staff, all areas in which the JAPCC continues to expand its expertise.