Born in Saluzzo, Cuneo, he became commandant of the (military) region of Piemonte-Valle d'Aosta in 1974 and created an anti-terrorism structure in Turin, which succeeded in capturing in September 1974 Red Brigades members Renato Curcio and Alberto Franceschini, with the help of Silvano Girotto, also known as Frate Mitra ("Friar Machine Gun"), who infiltrated the organisation.

In response to a suggestion that torture be used in the investigation, dalla Chiesa stated, "Italy can survive the loss of Aldo Moro.

They were on their way to dinner in a restaurant in Mondello, when at 9:15 pm a BMW 520 driven by Calogero Ganci, sitting next to Antonino Madonia, flanked dalla Chiesa's car.

[2] Pino Greco was later sentenced for the crime to life imprisonment in absentia at the Maxi Trial in December 1987 (even though they didn't know at the time he was killed two years before).

His son Nando, who is a sociology professor at the University of Milan and former member of Parliament, is the president honoris causa of the anti-Mafia organisation Libera founded by Luigi Ciotti.