Chief of Air Force (Sweden)

Chief of Air Force (Swedish: Flygvapenchef, FVC) is the most senior appointment in the Swedish Air Force. The position Chief of Air Force was introduced in 1926 and the current form in 2014.

Chief of Air Force
Flygvapenchef
Command flag of the Chief of Air Force.
Incumbent
Major general Jonas Wikman
since 14 December 2022
Swedish Air Force
AbbreviationFVC
Reports toChief of Armed Forces Training & Procurement[1]
SeatLidingövägen 24, Stockholm, Sweden
NominatorMinister for Defence
AppointerThe Government
Constituting instrumentFIB 2020:5, Chapter 13 a
Formation1 July 1926
First holderKarl Amundson
DeputyDeputy Chief of Air Force

History

The position and the staff agency "Chief of the Air Force" (Swedish: Chefen för flygvapnet, C FV) was created for a central leadership of the Air Force in peacetime[2][3] through the formation of the Swedish Air Force as an independent military branch which took place on 1 July 1926.[4] Following a larger reorganization of the Swedish Armed Forces in 1994, the staff agency Chief of the Air Force ceased to exist as an independent agency. Instead, the post Chief of Air Force Command (Swedish: Chefen för flygvapenledningen, C FVL) was created at the then newly instituted Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters. In 1998, the Swedish Armed Forces was again reorganized. Most of the duties of the Chief of Air Force Command were transferred to the newly instituted post of "Inspector General of the Air Force" (Swedish: Generalinspektören för flygvapnet, GI FV). The post is similar to that of the "Inspector General of the Army" (Swedish: Generalinspektören för armén) and the "Inspector General of the Navy" (Swedish: Generalinspektören för marinen).[5]

The Inspector General had two roles, partly to be head of the Air Force Center, and partly to be the main representative of the Air Force. The meaning of the latter task was that the Inspector General was the air force's figurehead both towards the air force personnel and within the Swedish Armed Forces in general and towards society and the outside world. As commander, he would represent everyone who has their work in the air force. To be able to solve this task, the Inspector General was part of the Swedish Armed Forces' senior command – the Military Command (Militärledningen). In this he represented the air force but also had an important role as an "independent" adviser to the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces. The Inspector General also played an important representative role in connection with the then increasing international operations. He represented the air force in connection with various forms of high-level visits within and outside the country. He also served as host when other nations' air force commanders visited Sweden.[6]

The Inspector General was later renamed "Inspector of the Air Force" (Swedish: Flygvapeninspektören, FVI).[3] On 1 January 2014, the "Chief of Air Force" (Swedish: Flygvapenchefen, FVC) position was reinstated in the Swedish Armed Forces. The position has not the same duties as before.[7]

Tasks

Tasks of the Chief of Air Force:[8]

  • Lead the units which the Chief of Swedish Armed Forces Training and Development has distributed
  • To the Chief of Swedish Armed Forces Training and Development propose the development of the units' abilities
  • Being the foremost representative of the units
  • Represent the units and the area of ability in international contacts

Heraldry

The command flag of the Chief of Air Force is drawn by Brita Grep and embroidered by hand by the company Libraria. Blazon: "Fessed in yellow and blue; on yellow two blue batons of command with sets of open yellow crowns placed two and one in saltire, on blue a winged two-bladed yellow propeller."[9]

List of chiefs
No. Portrait NameTook officeLeft officeTime in officeRef.
Chief of the Air Force (Chefen för flygvapnet, C FV)
1
Karl Amundson
Amundson, KarlMajor general
Karl Amundson
(1873–1938)		1 July 192625 February 19314 years, 239 days-
2
Eric Virgin
Virgin, EricMajor general
Eric Virgin
(1876–1950)		26 February 193130 June 19343 years, 124 days-
3
Torsten Friis
Friis, TorstenMajor general
Torsten Friis
(1882–1967)		1 July 193430 June 19427 years, 364 days-
4
Bengt Nordenskiöld
Nordenskiöld, BengtLieutenant general
Bengt Nordenskiöld
(1891–1983)		1 July 194230 June 195411 years, 364 days[10]
5
Axel Ljungdahl
Ljungdahl, AxelLieutenant general
Axel Ljungdahl
(1897–1995)		1 July 195430 June 19605 years, 365 days-
6
Torsten Rapp
Rapp, TorstenLieutenant general
Torsten Rapp
(1905–1993)		1 July 1960[note 1]30 September 19611 year, 91 days[11]
7
Lage Thunberg
Thunberg, LageLieutenant general
Lage Thunberg
(1905–1977)		1 October 196130 September 19686 years, 273 days[12]
-
Claës-Henrik Nordenskiöld
Nordenskiöld, Claës-HenrikMajor general
Claës-Henrik Nordenskiöld
(1917–2003)
Acting		1 July 196830 September 196891 days-
8
Stig Norén
Norén, StigLieutenant general
Stig Norén
(1908–1996)		1 October 196830 September 19734 years, 364 days-
9
Dick Stenberg
Stenberg, DickLieutenant general
Dick Stenberg
(1921–2004)		1 October 197330 September 19828 years, 364 days[13]
10
Sven-Olof Olson
Olson, Sven-OlofLieutenant general
Sven-Olof Olson
(1926–2021)		1 October 198230 September 19885 years, 365 days[14]
11
Lars-Erik Englund
Englund, Lars-ErikLieutenant general
Lars-Erik Englund
(1934–2010)		1 October 198830 June 19945 years, 272 days[15][16]
Chief of Air Force Command (Chef för flygvapenledningen, C FVL)
11
Lars-Erik Englund
Englund, Lars-ErikLieutenant general
Lars-Erik Englund
(1934–2010)		1 July 199430 September 199491 days[16]
12
Kent Harrskog
Harrskog, KentLieutenant general
Kent Harrskog
(born 1944)		1 October 199430 June 19983 years, 364 days[16][17]
Inspector General of the Air Force (Generalinspektör för flygvapnet, GI FV)
13
Jan Jonsson
Jonsson, JanMajor general
Jan Jonsson
(1952–2021)		1 July 199830 June 20001 year, 365 days[17][18]
14
Mats Nilsson
Nilsson, MatsMajor general
Mats Nilsson
(born 1956)		1 July 20001 December 20022 years, 153 days[18][19]
Inspector of the Air Force (Flygvapeninspektör, FVI)
15
Jan Andersson
Andersson, JanMajor general
Jan Andersson
(born 1955)		1 January 200329 February 20085 years, 59 days[19]
16
Anders Silwer
Silwer, AndersMajor general
Anders Silwer
(born 1959)		1 March 200831 December 20113 years, 305 days[20]
17
Micael Bydén
Bydén, MicaelMajor general
Micael Bydén
(born 1964)		1 January 201220141–2 years[21]
Chief of Air Force (Flygvapenchef, FVC)
17
Micael Bydén
Bydén, MicaelMajor general
Micael Bydén
(born 1964)		201430 September 20150–1 years-
18
Mats Helgesson
Helgesson, MatsMajor general
Mats Helgesson
(born 1964)		1 October 20151 October 20194 years, 0 days[22][23]
19
Carl-Johan Edström
Edström, Carl-JohanMajor general
Carl-Johan Edström
(born 1967)		1 October 201913 December 20223 years, 73 days[23]
20
Jonas Wikman
Wikman, JonasMajor general
Jonas Wikman
(born 1972)		14 December 2022Incumbent315 days[24]

List of deputy chiefs
Portrait NameTook officeLeft officeTime in officeRef.
Deputy Inspector General of Air Force (Ställföreträdande generalinspektör för flygvapnet)
Owe Wagermark [sv]
Wagermark, OweSenior colonel
Owe Wagermark
(born 1951)		199831 December 20001–2 years[25][26]
Jan Andersson
Andersson, JanBrigadier general
Jan Andersson
(born 1955)		1 April 200131 December 20021–2 years[26][19]
Deputy Chief of Air Force (Ställföreträdande flygvapenchef)
Carl-Johan Edström
Edström, Carl-JohanBrigadier general
Carl-Johan Edström
(born 1967)		1 January 201930 September 2019272 days[23]
Anders Persson
Persson, AndersBrigadier general
Anders Persson
(born 1968)		1 October 2019August 20222–3 years[27]
Tommy Petersson [sv]
Petersson, TommyBrigadier general
Tommy Petersson
(born 1970)		1 August 2022Incumbent1 year, 85 days[28]

See also

Footnotes
  1. Appointed on 15 January 1960 but didn't take office until 1 July 1960.[11]

References

Notes
  1. "Försvarsmaktens interna bestämmelser med arbetsordning för Försvarsmakten (FMArbo) - FIB 2020:5" (PDF). FÖRSVARSMAKTENS INTERNA BESTÄMMELSER (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 16 December 2020. p. 5. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  2. "Chefen för flygvapnet". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  3. Försvarets traditioner i framtiden med översiktlig historik från 1500-talet (PDF) (in Swedish). Statens försvarshistoriska museer TradN. 2015. p. 12. ISBN 9789197859554. SELIBR 17552963. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-10-24.
  4. "Lars-Erik Englund, flygvapenchef 1988–1994" (PDF). F18-kamraten: tidning för F18 kamratförening med medlemmar ur Kungl Södertörns flygflottilj/flygvapnets Södertörnsskolor (in Swedish). Uttran: F18 kamratförening (42): 3. 2010. SELIBR 10339544.
  5. Nordgren, Annika; et al. (24 February 1998). "Motion till riksdagen 1997/98:Fö3" (in Swedish). Riksdag. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  6. Wagermark, Owe (1998). "Flygvapnet centrum är Flygvapencentrum" (PDF). Flygvapennytt (in Swedish). Stockholm: Flygstaben (3): 4. SELIBR 8257600.
  7. "Nya namn på nya poster" [New names for new positions] (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  8. Försvarets författningssamling: FFS 2013:4 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: TF-redaktionen, Försvarets materielverk. 2013-12-23. p. 18. ISSN 0347-7576. SELIBR 3683131.
  9. Braunstein, Christian (2004). Svenska försvarsmaktens fälttecken efter millennieskiftet [The flags and standards of the Swedish armed forces after the turn of the millennium] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 7 [dvs 8] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. p. 108. ISBN 91-971584-7-X. SELIBR 9815350. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  10. Böhme, Klaus-Richard (1990–1991). "Bengt G Nordenskiöld". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 27. National Archives of Sweden. p. 292. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  11. Norén, Stig (1995–1997). "B Torsten Rapp". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 29. National Archives of Sweden. p. 675. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  12. Skoglund, Claës (2009). Det bästa försvarsbeslut som aldrig kom till stånd: ett kontrafaktiskt uppslag (PDF). Publikation / Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FOKK), 1652-5388 ; 17 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibliotek. p. 48. ISBN 9789185789573. SELIBR 11704940.
  13. Scheiderbauer, Sven (2007–2011). "Dick Stenberg". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 33. National Archives of Sweden. p. 225. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  14. Wennerholm 2015, p. 154
  15. Charleville, Jahn, ed. (1988). "Ny CFV" [New Chief of the Air Force] (PDF). Flygvapennytt (in Swedish). Stockholm: Flygstaben (1): 2. SELIBR 8257600.
  16. "Flygvapnets nye chef" (PDF). Flygvapennytt (in Swedish). Stockholm: Flygstaben (1): 2. 1994. SELIBR 8257600.
  17. "Flygvapnets främste företrädare: Generalmajor JAN JONSSON" (PDF). Flygvapennytt (in Swedish). Stockholm: Flygstaben (2): 2–3. 1998. SELIBR 8257600.
  18. Liander, Peter (2000). "Mats Nilsson. Ny GI för flygvapnet" (PDF). Flygvapennytt (in Swedish). Stockholm: Flygstaben (2): 38. SELIBR 8257600.
  19. Liander, Peter (2002). "Mats Nilsson lämnar GI-posten. Jan Andersson tar över" (PDF). Flygvapennytt (in Swedish). Stockholm: Flygstaben (4): 5. SELIBR 8257600.
  20. "VIKBO 1960" (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  21. Bydén, Micael (1 January 2012). "I NY BEFATTNING!" (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  22. "Mats Helgesson ny flygvapenchef" [Mats Helgesson new Chief of Air Force] (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  23. "Ny flygvapenchef utsedd" [New Chief of Air Force appointed] (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  24. "Jonas Wikman blir ny chef för flygvapnet" [Jonas Wikman will be the new Chief of Air Force] (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  25. Kjellander, Rune (2013). Svenska flygvapnets högre chefer 1925-2005: chefsbiografier och befattningsöversikter (in Swedish). Värmdö: Rune Kjellander. p. 111. ISBN 9789163711831. SELIBR 15870537.
  26. "På nya befattningar" (PDF). Flygvapennytt (in Swedish). Stockholm: Flygstaben (1): 46. 2001. SELIBR 8257600.
  27. Ullman, Angela (2 October 2019). "Ny flygvapenchef tog befälet" (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  28. "PÅ NY POST" (PDF). Försvarets forum: Personaltidning för fast anställda och reservofficerare i svenska försvarsmakten (in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarets forum (4): 8. 2022. SELIBR 4109339.

Print
  • Wennerholm, Bertil, ed. (2015). Så kom JAS-projektet till: vittnesseminarium kring beslutsprocessen om JAS 39 1979-1983 : 11 november 2013. Forskningsprojektet Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FOKK), 1652-5388 ; 45 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Forskningsprojektet Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FoKK. ISBN 9789198049886. SELIBR 18205009.
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