Norway appoints first female general

General Lund. Photo: Mil.no

On Sept. 18 the Norwegian army appointed the country’s first female general.

The army said Friday that Kristin Lund (51) will be promoted from brigadier. When she was promoted to brigadier in 2007, she was also the first female brigadier in the army.

General Lund said she was honored to be appointed. She also said she hopes the promotion will encourage women to join the army.

Lund started her military career in 1979, two years after the first officer candidate school opened up for women. She has a long military career in both Norway and abroad. Lund most recently served as deputy commander of the Østerdal Garrison in Rena. She has also served in Lebanon, the Gulf, the Balkans and Afghanistan.

Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen congratulated Lund on the appointment. “I am very happy that the military has its first female Inspector General. Kristin Lund is an accomplished officer with a very broad national and international basis. The Army has recently undergone heavy modernization. I am convinced that Major General Lund will continue this important work,” said Strøm-Erichsen.

Source: Government.no / Mil.no