Di Paola was born in Naples on 15 August 1944. He holds a degree in strategic and military sciences and an "ad honorem" master's degree in sciences. He joined the Italian Navy in 1963 and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1966 as an ensign. In 1967 he attended the Submarine School and underwent fleet training aboard submarines, receiving a promotion to sub-lieutenant on 11 November.
Career
Di Paola was promoted to lieutenant on 31 July 1971. He served in junior officer appointments in conventional submarines and commanded the submarine Cappellini in 1974-1975. He was promoted to corvette captain on 1 January 1976 and to frigate captain on 1 January 1980, receiving command of the submarine Sauro. In 1981 he attended the NATO Defense College in Rome. From 1981 to 1984 Di Paola served as Anti Submarine Warfare and Undersea Warfare Program Officer, Long Term Planning Branch, in the Supreme Allied Command Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. In 1984, he assumed command of the frigate Grecale. In 1986, he was appointed to the Navy Staff in Rome as Plans and Programs Branch Chief in the Directorate of Financial Planning. From 1989 to 1990, as a Captain, he commanded the aircraft carrierGaribaldi. In 1990 he returned to the Navy Staff and was appointed as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff, then as Chief of Naval Plans and Policy Branch, and finally as Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations. He was promoted to rear admiral on 31 December 1993. During this period the Italian Navy was involved in supporting NATO arms embargo operations to contain the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, and in the U.N. operation Restore Hope in Somalia. As a Rear Admiral he was assigned to the Defense Staff in 1994, at the Ministry of Defense. Here he served as chief of the Directorate of Defense Policy between 1994 and 1998. In this position he took an active part in the planning of the Italian contribution to the NATO effort for the stabilization of the Balkans and for the Italian-led Operation in support of Albania in 1997. As Polmil advisor to the Minister of Defense and to the Italian Chod he was actively engaged in NATO PfP initiative and in the Mediterranean Dialogue. He was also the Italian representative to the HLG on nuclear and proliferation issues. From 1998 to 2001, with the rank of divisional admiral, he assumed the position of Chief of the Cabinet Office of the Ministry of Defence. On 1 January 1999 he was promoted to squadron vice-admiral. In this position he took active part in supporting the political decision making for the Italian contribution to the NATO initiative in Kosovo, the NATO enlargement process and outreach policy and in the development of the ESDP and NATO-EU relationship. In March 2001 he was appointed Secretary General of Defence/National Armaments Director. In this capacity he held national responsibility for major NATO programmes such as AGS, ALTBMD, NATO Airlift Capability, NATO SATCOM Post 2000 and MEADS. He was promoted Admiral on 10 March 2004 on becoming Chief of Defense. In this capacity he had the overall responsibility for the policy and planning of the Italian Armed Forces and - as CINCFOR – he did hold planning and command responsibility for Italian Forces participation in NATO, EU and Coalition operations conducted in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Balkans, the Mediterranean, Pakistan and in the United Nations Operation in Lebanon. From 27 June 2008 to 15 November 2011, he was the chairman of the NATO Military Committee. On 16 November 2011, he was appointed to serve in Mario Monti's cabinet as minister of defense. His tenure ended in April 2013 and Mario Mauro replaced him in the post. He is a member of the Italy-USA Foundation.
