Efisio Cugia di Sant'Orsola (27 April 1818 in Cagliari – 13 February 1872 in Rome) was an Italian general and politician.

In 1848 he participated in the first Italian War of Independence and on May 30, in the battle of Goito, he was wounded, which earned him a silver medal of military valor.

he fought alongside General Enrico Cialdini in the IV division, earning the knight's cross in the Military Order of Savoy for his bravery at the battle of Palestro.

[2][3] General in 1860, he was chosen as chief of staff of the army corps; appointed on 12 December of the same year as director for war affairs in southern Italy,[4] relinquishing this post to Genova Giovanni Thaon di Revel when Vittorio Emanuele II, assigned him instead the position of extraordinary commissioner in Sicily, which he held until 21 August 1862.

As Navy Minister he instituted a school of cannonry on board the frigate Partenope and commissioned two armoured gunboats, later named the Alfredo Cappellini and the Faà di Bruno.