The Honorable Claudio Bisogniero with Cultural Center Director Patricia Civitate (left) and President Jo Anna Schmeling (right).

The Honorable Claudio Bisogniero, Italian Ambassador now serving in Washington, DC, was guest of honor at a reception held December 4th at the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa. Ambassador Bisogniero officially took the reins as Italy’s ambassador to the U.S. on February 6th.

Born in Rome, Italy on July 2, 1954, Claudio Bisogniero earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Rome in 1976, and served as an officer in the Italian Army in 1976 and 1977. He then entered the Italian Foreign Service in May, 1978.

Late in 1992 Bisogniero was posted for the first time to the U.S. to serve as first counselor for economic and commercial affairs at the embassy in Washington, D.C., with special focus on financial issues, the IMF and World Bank, and defense industry co-operation. After four years in Washington, he moved north to New York, to serve at the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nation, with primary responsibilities for political affairs and UN reform. In 1998 he returned to Rome to serve at the Foreign Affairs Ministry for the next 8 years.

Ambassador Bisogniero with board members of the Italian American Cultural Center of Iowa.

From 1999 to 2002, Bisognero served in the Personnel Department and later at the Office of the Secretary General, as direct collaborator with the Secretary General. In February 2002 Bisogniero was appointed deputy director general for political multilateral affairs, responsible for NATO, the United Nations, G8, disarmament, OSCE, anti-terrorism and human rights issues. In June 2005 he became director for the Americas, with responsibility for the relations with the nations of the Western Hemisphere, including the U.S. In October 2007 Bisogniero was named NATO Deputy Secretary General, serving in Brussels until late 2011 when he was named ambassador to the U.S.

Ambassador Bisogniero with Polk County Supervisors (L-R) Angela Connolly, Tom Hockensmith and John Mauro.

Consulate General of Italy Marco Gracioso, whose office is in the Consulate in Chicago, accompanied Ambassador Bisogniero while visiting the mid-west. Also in attendance at the reception were members of the Des Moines City Council, the Polk County Board of Supervisors, members of the Board of Governors of the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa as well as representatives from the Society of Italian-Americans, the Societa Vittoria Italiana and ladies of their auxiliaries.

Ambassador Bisogniero expressed his extreme pleasure of being at the reception and during his visit to the Cultural Center and told those in attendance that he was impressed with the manner in which the Italian Culture and Heritage is being displayed at the Center. He also congratulated the Board for not only preserving but also shared their Italian heritage with generations both old and young alike. Click here to view the letter from the Ambassador.