Commander Alessandro IRVIA (Marine Engineer/Naval Architect) joined the IT Navy in 1996. He worked for nine years on board submarine type U212A two of which as Chief Engineer and other two years on board a destroyer ship as Chief Engineer. He held diverse assignments within Submarine branch (IT Navy Staff, Directorate for Naval Armaments, Flotillas technical/training dept). He also obtained a specialization in Submarine Design (national and international courses - UCL/London) and post graduate Master’s Degree in International Military Strategic Studies. Alessandro strongly believes in R&D especially in underwater dimension, today is acting as Platform Officer of the NFS Programme Division in OCCAR-EA.