Chief of Defence of Norway

Chief of Defence of Norway Forsvarssjefen
Flag of the Chief of Defence
Incumbent Harald Sunde since 1 October 2009
Inaugural holder	Otto Ruge
Formation	18 May 1940
Website	http://www.mil.no/fst/forsvarssjefen/

The Chief of Defence of Norway (Forsvarssjefen) is the highest ranking officer of the Military of Norway, second only to the King of Norway. Even though he holds the same rank as the King of Norway, according to the Norwegian Constitution the King holds the highest command of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Home Guard. He is the top advisor to the Government regarding military issues. He is responsible for carrying out the mission the King or Minister of Defence gives to the Military. He is also Norway's representative to NATO's military committee.^[1]

The post was first established in 1940.^[2][3] Since October 2009 the position has been filled by General Harald Sunde.^[4]

Holders of the post

Name	Branch	Term began	Term ended
Major General Otto Ruge	Army	18 May 1940	9 June 1940
Vacant (de facto Major General Carl Gustav Fleischer)		10 June 1940	22 February 1942
Major General Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen	Army	23 February 1942	31 June 1944
HRH Crown Prince Olav	Army	1 July 1944	15 July 1945
Lieutenant General Otto Ruge	Army	16 July 1945	31 December 1945
Rear Admiral Elias Corneliussen	Navy	1 January 1946	31 May 1946
Major General Halvor Hansson	Army	1 June 1946	31 July 1946
Lieutenant General Ole Berg (as Chief of the Defence Staff)	Army	1 August 1946	31 October 1955
Lieutenant General Finn Lambrechts (as Chief of the Defence Staff)	Air Force	1 November 1955	8 December 1956
Lieutenant General Bjarne Øen (as Chief of the Defence Staff)	Air Force	10 January 1957	31 December 1962
Lieutenant General Bjarne Øen	Air Force	1 January 1963	31 December 1963
(Vice) Admiral Folke Hauger Johannessen	Navy	1 January 1964	31 December 1972
General Herman Fredrik Zeiner-Gundersen	Army	1 February 1972	20 March 1977
General Sverre B. Hamre	Army	21 March 1977	30 June 1982
General Sven Hauge	Air Force	1 July 1982	30 June 1984
General Fredrik Bull-Hansen	Army	1 July 1984	31 August 1987
General Vigleik Eide	Army	31 August 1987	5 September 1989
Admiral Torolf Rein	Navy	5 September 1989	31 October 1994
General Arne Solli	Army	31 October 1994	30 April 1999
General Sigurd Frisvold	Army	1 May 1999	31 March 2005
General Sverre Diesen	Army	1 April 2005	30 September 2009
General Harald Sunde	Army	1 October 2009	Incumbent

References and footnotes

1. ^ Overview of the Chief of Defence of Norway position and a listing of holders (in Norwegian)
2. ^ Derry, T.K. (1972). A History of Modern Norway: 1814—1972. Clarendon Press, Oxford. ISBN 19-822503-2. 
3. ^ Kersaudy, François (1987). Norway 1940. St. Martin's Press, New York. ISBN 0-312-06427-6. 
4. ^ NTB (2009-05-29). "Harald Sunde ny forsvarssjef". Dagbladet.no. http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/05/29/nyheter/forsvaret/innenriks/forsvarspolitikk/regjeringen/6462787/. Retrieved 2009-05-29.