During his time as a lieutenant colonel he served as an F-104 RECCE pilot with the 3rd Wing in Villafranca di Verona, during which he commanded the 28th Squadron right after his graduation at the NATO Defence College in 1977 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
During his time as a lieutenant colonel, he flew F-104 reconnaissance missions under the 3rd Wing in Villafranca di Verona. After graduating from the NATO Defence College in 1977 with the rank of lieutenant colonel, he assumed command of the 28th Squadron.