Having been promoted to lieutenant on 1 January 1915, he participated in the First World War, at first embarked on various ships,[1] including the battleship Regina Elena, and later as artillery group commander in the Naval Brigade, fighting on the Piave river.

[1] He distinguished himself during the fighting near Cortellazzo (July 1918), and the lower Piave (October 1918), receiving two Bronze Medals of Military Valor and a War Merit Cross.

[1] Before taking command of the training ship Cristoforo Colombo in March 1930, he held the post of Chief of Staff of the 1st Destroyer Division.

[1] He then spent a brief period in shore assignments at the Ministry of the Navy[1] and in command of the schools of the Royal Corps of Naval Crews (Corpo Reali Equipaggi Marittimi, C.R.E.M.)

[2] On 25 April 1940 Brivonesi was appointed commander of the 5th Naval Division, consisting of the battleships Duilio and Andrea Doria, a role he would hold till 7 November 1941.