Harald Sunde new Chief of Norwegian Defence

Lieutenant General Harald Sunde saluting the Norwegian Chief of Defence. Photo: Thomas Kjemperud

Lieutenant General Harald Sunde was appointed General and new Chief of Defence by the King in Council on May 29.

“It is with great joy and anticipation that I welcome Harald Sunde as the new Chief of Defence to take over from General Sverre Diesen in the autumn. General Sunde has all the necessary qualities to lead our Armed Forces,” says Defence minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen.

Lieutenant General Sunde is currently Chief of the National Joint Headquarters, and will take up the post as Chief of Defence on 1 October 2009. 

“Lieutenant General Sunde has had a long, robust and operational career in the Armed Forces. His professional competence as well as his human skills will be extremely valuable in his post as Chief of Defence,” says Strøm-Erichsen.

Sunde was born March 9, 1954 in Hurdal, Norway. He graduated as the best student from the Officer Candidate School for the Cavalry in 1974 and from the Military Academy in 1979. He completed the Norwegian Army Staff College I in 1986 and was a student at “Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr” from 1987 to 1989. He is also a graduate from the US Army War College from 1999.

Source: Government.no