Luca Parmitano graduated from the Liceo Scientifico Statale 'Galileo Galilei' in Catania, Italy, in 1995. In 1999, he completed a bachelor’s degree in political sciences at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, with a thesis on international law. In 2000, he graduated from the Italian Air Force Academy, in Pozzuoli, Italy. Luca Parmitano completed basic air force training with the US Air Force at the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training in Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, US, in 2001. He completed the JCO/CAS course with the USAFE in Sembach, Germany, in 2002. In 2003, he qualified as Electronic Warfare Officer at the ReSTOGE in Pratica di Mare, Italy. He completed the Tactical Leadership Programme in Florennes, Belgium, in 2005. In July 2009, Luca Parmitano completed a master’s degree in experimental flight test engineering at the Institute Superieure de l’Aeronautique et de l’Espace in Toulouse, France.
Following completion of undergraduate pilot training in 2001, Luca Parmitano flew the AM-X aircraft with the 13^th Group, 32^nd Wing in Amendola, Italy, from 2001 to 2007. During that time, he obtained all aircraft qualifications, including Combat Ready, Four Ship Leader and Mission Commander/Package Leader. Within the 13^th Group he served as Chief of Training Section and Commander of the 76th Squadron. He was also the 32^nd Wing Electronic Warfare Officer. In 2007, he was selected by the Italian Air Force to become a test pilot. He trained as an Experimental Test Pilot at EPNER, the French test pilot school in Istres. Luca Parmitano is a major in the Italian Air Force. He has logged more than 2000 hours flying time, is qualified on more than 20 types of military airplanes and helicopters, and has flown over 40 types of aircraft.
Luca Parmitano was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009.
He enjoys scuba diving, snowboarding, skydiving, weight training and swimming. Other interests include reading and music.