David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti, born ; is an Italian former commissioned officer of the Aeronautica Militare, pilot, cybersecurity professional, author, aviation expert, and founder and chief editor of The Aviationist, an aviation- and defence-focused news website.

Cenciotti has authored several books and holds a degree in computer engineering. His commentary and work has been hosted by Business Insider, MSN, and New Delhi TV, among other news outlets and works, and he is regularly cited by official military publications.

Early life and military service

Cenciotti was born in Rome, Italy in 1975 and obtained a university degree in computer engineering. After obtaining a civilian private pilot's license, Cenciotti commissioned into the Italian Air Force (ItAF) as a second lieutenant and served from 1998 to 2000 as a public information officer. Cenciotti flew "several combat planes", Cenciotti also attended the ItAF's ’‘Scuola di guerra aerea’’ (Air War School). as well as on aviation-based controversies. Cenciotti has written and commented extensively on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II program, with Italy providing funding for the F-35's development, and operating both the "A"- and "B"-variants; Cenciotti has written regarding "jailbreaking" the F-35's software, arguing that that the Lightning II is "not a commercial [computer]" and that it would be difficult to modify the secure software. Cenciotti has further analyzed the stealth aspects of the Lightning II, and has otherwise reported on the aircraft's use by the ItAF, including trials concerning landing and taking-off from highways. His contributions to Business Insider include analysis of Iran's attempts to build a stealth aircraft, the IAIO Qaher-313, and he has been referenced by The Times of Israel regarding the alleged aircraft.

Cenciotti's work and commentary has been featured on and via Business Insider, MSN, RealClearDefense, and NDTV, among other entities. His work has additionally been featured or referenced by the Air Force Institute of Technology of the United States Air Force (USAF), the USAF's Air & Space Power Journal and the Naval War College Review of the United States Navy. Cenciotti was also interviewed for Annie Jacobsen's 2016 Nuclear War: A Scenario, a New York Times Best Seller list non-fiction book concerning a hypothetical nuclear first strike against the United States by North Korea. The ItAF has featured Cenciotti on live-stream programming.

Cenciotti's books include the official 50th-anniversary celebration book commissioned by the ItAF's Frecce Tricolori aerial performance team, Frecce tricolori. Un volo lungo cinquant’anni (English: Tricolour Arrows: An Exciting Fifty Years of Flight); Brrrttt… Deployments, War Chronicles and Stories of the Last A-10 Warthogs; and Italian Starfighters, a photobook chronicling the F-104 Starfighter's use by the ItAF.

Cenciotti has been critical of the Italian government's budget-cuts while lauding increased defence-spending, opining in 2013:

Reception Cenciotti has been described by American military journalist David Axe as a "noted expert" and by Business Insider as being "among the best and most cited" of military journalists. The Aviationist has been further described as "one of the world’s most popular aviation sites" by Indian defence analysis website Livefist. In 2011, American cryptographer and author Bruce Schneier asserted that "The Aviationist has consistently had the best analysis" regarding Israeli, Iranian, and United States unmanned combat aerial vehicles (military drones).

In 2014, Cenciotti was criticized by the R Street Institute (a U.S. think-tank) for "singing the praises" of the Lockheed Martin-Boeing F-22 Raptor, though he is quoted as stating:

Personal life Cenciotti lives in Rome, Italy and is married with two children,