H.E. Mr Carmel Vassallo
Ambassador
Carmel Vassallo was born in Malta in May 1954. He was commissioned into the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) in the rank of Lieutenant in May 1976 after three years serving in a military auxiliary corps. He attended his basic military training at the Italian Army School of Infantry.
In 1982, he undertook a helicopter pilot's course and was granted the Italian Military Pilot's licence (helicopters) in 1983 and the Search and Rescue (SAR) pilot qualification in 1985. As a Captain, he commanded the Air (helicopters) Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta for six years.
He successfully completed a two-year Staff Officer's Course at the Italian Army War College between 1989 and 1991 and was promoted to Major in November 1989.
In September 1991 he was appointed Staff Officer Operations and Training at Headquarters AFM. In this post, he was instrumental in the creation of the AFM’s SAR organisation and the strengthening of Malta’s SAR and blue border control capabilities, one of the AFM’s primary roles.
In January 1992, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was appointed Principal Staff Officer in February 1994 and promoted to the rank of Colonel in August 1996. He was appointed Registrar of the National Order of Merit in December 1996 and in the same month he was appointed Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta.
In 1998, he successfully completed the 'Royal College of Defence Studies' course in London.
Between 2001 and 2004 he was the Maltese military representative on the EU Military Committee and was also involved in blue border negotiation talks with the European Commission in preparation for Malta’s accession to the European Union in 2004.
On 1st March 2004 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier and appointed Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta. During his time, he oversaw a re-organisation of the AFM, a significant increase in capital expenditure especially in the maritime and air components, secure communications and offshore surveillance capabilities and the participation in EU-led, UN-sanctioned operations in the Mediterranean and its neighbourhood. He retired from the AFM in January 2010.
During his military career, Brigadier Vassallo received various honours and decorations, including the Commander’s Cross of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Grande Ufficiale dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana, and the United States military award Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander).
On 1st January 2011, following a public call for applications, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Air Traffic Services (MATS) Ltd, a State-owned company designated as the air navigation service provider for Malta. Major investments were undertaken, including a new air traffic management system, radar surveillance and communications infrastructure, as well as Staff training. He resigned from MATS Ltd in May 2016.
Brigadier Carmel Vassallo presented his credentials as the first resident Ambassador of the Republic of Malta to the Republic of Turkey on 23rd October 2017.
He is married to Mary Anne and they have three children.