Major General Ignazio Gamba was born in Chieri (near Turin) on 19th February 1961.
From 1982 to 1986 he attended the 164th Course of the Military Academy in Modena and the following junior officers’ specialization courses. Upon completion of his military studies he attained a master degree in strategic sciences.
On 1st September 1986 he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant.
On 5th January 1987 he was assigned to the "Susa” Alpini Battalion, where he served as anti-tank platoon leader until 26th June 1988.
After joining the Alpini Parachute Company of the 4th Alpini Army Corps, he held the positions of Company Deputy Commander (26th June – 6th
October 1988; 5th January 1989 – 2nd September 1990) and Company Commander (7th October 1988 – 4th January 1989).
Once promoted to the rank of Captain on 1st September 1990, he commanded the 22nd Company of the "Saluzzo” Alpini Battalion (3rd September 1990 – 19th August 1992) and the "Monte Cervino” Alpini Parachute Company (25th August 1992 – 25th August 1994).
Upon completion of the 121st Italian General Staff Course (academic year 1994 – 95), he was assigned to the Headquarters of the 4th Alpini Army Corps, where at the same time he held the positions of G7 Staff Officer and G3 Air Staff Officer (29th June 1995 – 13th July ’96).
After joining the newly-established "Monte Cervino” Alpini Parachute Battalion, he served as Chief G1 and Battalion Deputy Commander (14th July 1996 – 31st March 1998).
He was promoted to the rank of Major on 1st January 1997.
From 1st April 1998 onwards he studied English at the Army Language School in Perugia and then he attended the 1st course of the Joint Services Staff College in Rome (academic year 1998 – 99).
On 15th September 1999 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
On 30th September 1999 he was assigned to the Headquarters of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (Germany), where he served as J7 Staff Officer.
From 25th October 2000 to 18th September 2002 he commanded the "Monte Cervino” Alpini Parachute Battalion.
From 19th September to 19th October 2003 he held the double-hatted position of "Julia” Alpini Brigade Chief of Staff and Multinational Land Force Chief of Staff.
On 20th October 2003 he was transferred to the Italian Ministry of Defense as Section Chief at the Military Policy Office.
He was promoted to the rank of Colonel on 1st January 2006.
On 29th June 2007 he assumed command of the 4th "Monte Cervino” Alpini Parachute Regiment. He handed over this position in the fall of the following year to be deployed to Afghanistan in an operational task.
Upon completion of this tour abroad, he was assigned to the Office of the Defense Attachés at the Permanent Representation of Italy to the European Union in Brussels as Deputy Military Advisor and Army Military Attaché (24th August 2009 – 29th August 2012).
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on 10th February 2012.
Once returned to Italy on 14th September 2012, Brigadier General Ignazio Gamba was appointed commanding officer of both the "Julia” Alpini Brigade and the Multinational Land Force.
He retained the responsibilities up until 18th September 2014.
Since 29th September 2014 he serves as Deputy Chief General and Financial Planning Division of Italian Army General Staff.
He was promoted to the rank of Major General on 1st July 2016.
He took part to the following operations abroad:
- "Albatros” in Mozambique (26th March – 29th June 1993), as Company Commander;
- ISAF in Afghanistan (5th May – 12th September 2002), as Task Force Commander;
- ISAF in Afghanistan (28th November 2008 – 6th July 2009), as Commander of the 6th Italian Operational and Mentor Liaison Team in the HERAT region;
- ISAF XX in Afghanistan (24th March – 09th September) as Commander of the Regional Command West.
Major General Ignazio Gamba and his wife Sophia Catharina Louisa Bunck have two sons, Luca Marco e Sandro Jan.
His awards and military decorations include:
- Italian Army Gold Cross of Merit (ISAF 2002);
- Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - Officer;
- Italian Army Bronze Medal of Merit for extended command;
- Italian Army Long Service Golden Cross;
- Italian Army Bronze Medal of Merit for extended service in the parachute units;
- Italian Commemorative Cross for Peace Operation in Mozambique;
- UN Commemorative Medal for Peace Operation in Mozambique;
- Slovenian Armed Forces "Zlata Medalja";
- NATO ISAF Mission Commemorative Medal.