Norway has appointed a new Chief of Defence

Vice-Admiral Haakon Stephen Bruun-Hanssen has been appointed admiral of the Royal Norwegian Navy and will take up the position as Chief of Defence when General Harald Sunde retires later this year.

- I am very happy to welcome Haakon Stephen Bruun-Hanssen as new Chief of Defence when General Sunde retires later this year, says Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen. Bruun-Hansen has been working closely with General Sunde concerning the modernization of the armed forces, our mission in Afghanistan and other international operations. Bruun-Hansen has an all-round military background and impressive career in the Norwegian Armed Forces. I am confident that he has all the qualities needed to lead our Armed Forces, says Strøm-Erichsen.

Haakon Stephen Bruun-Hanssen (52) was appointed vice-admiral in 2011. He is presently Commander of the National Joint Headquarters (NJHQ) near Bodø.

He graduated from the Norwegian Naval Academy and has completed Naval staff academy I, Royal Netherlands Long Staff Course and the total defence course at The Norwegian Defence University College (NDUC)

Vice-admiral Bruun-Hansen has served as captain on a submarine, been staff officer in the Naval Staff, duty officer at the Military Headquarters Planning office and has acted as supervisor and teacher at the Staff College. From 2003 until 2006 he was head of sea operations at the operational headquarters. He has also served as chief of the Naval Staff and from 2008 until 2011 he was chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy. Since May 24, 2011 Bruun-Hansen has been Commander of the National Joint Headquarters near Bodø.