U.S. Army Garrison Italy Commander Col. Erik M. Berdy (left) welcomes Italian Carabinieri (military police) Lt. Col. Walter Rossaro during an office meeting in the headquarters building, Dec. 14. Rossaro took command of USAG Italy's Carabinieri SET...

Maj. Gen. Roger L. Cloutier, the U.S. Army Africa commander (right), presents the USARAF crest to Italian Lt. Col. Lucio Merlo, Southern European Task Force Carabinieri commander, during his farewell ceremony at Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy, Nov....

VICENZA, Italy (Dec. 17, 2018) - Italian Carabinieri (military police) Lt. Col. Walter Rossaro took command of USAG Italy's Carabinieri SETAF group headquartered here at Caserma Ederle, Nov. 21.

Rossaro's previous assignment was at the Operational Land Forces Headquarters of the Italian Army in Verona, where he served as the commander of the Provost Marshal Office.

"Working here in Vicenza with the U.S. Army is something I am familiar with. It's good to be part of an Italian-American partnership like this," said Rossaro.

During his 32-year career, Rossaro served in multiple international deployments including Kosovo, Chad, Afghanistan, Libya and Lebanon. In many of these locations he worked alongside with U.S. military forces.

As the Commander of the Carabinieri SETAF group, Rossaro is responsible for the security of the installation through close coordination and cooperation with many U.S. and host nation military organizations and agencies.

"My first impression of this garrison is that it's an environment of very professional people working together. My office is alongside the American Provost Marshal's office. This certainly helps promote joint and combined training and operations between our two military police forces."

Rossaro is a graduate of the Italian Army Military Academy of Modena, as well as from the Carabinieri Officers School in Rome, the major institute for officer development. He has served in a variety of command and staff assignments in Italy, each one more complex and with increased responsibility. These assignments include: Carabinieri company commander at the towns of Vipiteno, Orbetello and Empoli; investigation unit commander for the provincial HQ's of Pordenone.

He holds a degree in Law and a master's degree in Internal and External Security Sciences.

"I am committed to continuing a strong and successful relationship with my colleagues and the US military leadership for a productive and mutually beneficial partnership here," Rossaro said.

Rossaro replaced Lt. Col. Lucio Merlo who served as the SETAF Carabinieri commander from Jan. 2011 till Nov. 2018. Merlo is currently assigned to the Center of Excellence and Stability for Police Units in Vicenza.