Major General RISTUCCIA graduated from the Italian Military Academy, in Modena in 1987. In 1995 he attended the US Army FA Officer Advanced Course and then graduated from the Scuola di Guerra, the Italian equivalent of the Staff College, in 1998, and the Istituto Superiore di Stato Maggiore Interforze, the Italian equivalent of the Joint Services Command and Staff College, in 2002.
Major General RISTUCCIA spent the majority of his career serving in the 3/5th Field Artillery (MLRS) where he commanded at multiple levels including XO, Btr Cdr, Bn Cdr, and Rgt Cdr. When not in command and working for the Italian Army General Staff his focus was the G1 Functional Area. Additionally, in 2009, he was deployed as the UNIFIL Force Commander Special Staff Chief.
After commanding the 5th FA Rgt (MLRS) from March 2010 to September 2012, Major General RISTUCCIA was assigned to the Italian Army General Staff as Chief of the office in charge of HR (Officers) management.
In 2014, he attended the French 64th class of the Centre des Hautes Etudes Militaires, at the Centre for Higher Military Studies, and the 67th class of the Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Defense Nationale at the National Defence Institut.
When promoted to Brigadier General in July 2015, he became DCOS Support, Northern Defense Forces Interregional HQ in Padova.
From June to November 2016, Major General RISTUCCIA served a tour of duty as Operation Prima Parthica IT NCC-L in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan.
In December 2016, Major General RISTUCCIA assumed command of 132nd Ariete Armoured Brigade. In this position, he led the 2017 NRF Stand-Up Brigade and the 2018 VJTF (L) Brigade.
On January 14, 2019, Major General RISTUCCIA became the Chief of Staff of NRDC-ITA.
On May 29, 2020 he became Commander of “Vittorio Veneto” Division. In this position, he is leading the Division reorganization as Multinational Division-South within NATO.
Major General RISTUCCIA holds three degrees: Political Science, Strategic Sciences, International and Diplomatic Sciences. He holds a Master’s degree in International Strategic Studies and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies.
He is awarded the Italian Army Silver Cross of Merit for Operation Prima Parthica, the Medaille Pirol or de la Défense Nationale Francaise, the Slovenian Army Medal for International Cooperation Grade I, the Spanish Army Cruz al Merito Militar Blanco, and the US Order of Santa Barbara.
Major General RISTUCCIA is married to a junior high school teacher and they have a daughter, Eleonora. He is fond of basketball and tennis.