Director of Military Intelligence and Security (Sweden)

Director of Military Intelligence and Security
Chefen för militära underrättelse- och säkerhetstjänsten
Incumbent
LtGen Thomas Nilsson
since 1 May 2023
Swedish Armed Forces
TypeDirector of the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service
AbbreviationC MUST
Member ofDefence Board
Reports toSupreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces
SeatSwedish Armed Forces Headquarters, Lidingövägen 24, Stockholm
Term lengthNo fixed term
Constituting instrumentFFS 2007:4, Chapter 6
FFS 2013:4, Chapter 11
FFS 2016:2, Chapter 11
FIB 2020.1, Chapter 11
Formation1993
First holderMajor General Erik Rossander
DeputyDeputy Director of Military Intelligence & Security

The Director of Military Intelligence and Security (Swedish: Chefen för militära underrättelse- och säkerhetstjänsten, C MUST) is a three-star role within the Swedish Armed Forces, responsible the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service. The Director of Military Intelligence and Security is part of the Defence Board (Försvarsmaktsledningen, FML), a group of the Supreme Commander's top commanders. The currect director is Lieutenant General Thomas Nilsson.

Tasks

The Director of Military Intelligence and Security duties are to—among other things—plan, lead, implement and follow up defense intelligence activities as well as military intelligence and security services. The military security service consists of security intelligence service, protective security service and signal protection service. The task includes leading and producing the National Intelligence Unit (Nationella underrättelseenheten, NUE) with the support of the Chief of Armed Forces Training & Procurement. The task includes supporting the Chief of Joint Operations with follow-up and analysis of external developments abroad. The Director of Military Intelligence and Security shall exercise the employer's duties and powers for the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service unit at the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters, including defense attachés, and for the NUE with the support of the Chief of Armed Forces Training & Procurement. The task includes recruiting, training, equipping and leading and distributing the work, taking into account requirements for maintaining preparedness and carrying out operations.

Major General Gunnar Karlson (left) as Director of Military Intelligence and Security in 2014.

The Director of Military Intelligence and Security leads and coordinates the Total Defense's signal protection service, including the work with secure cryptographic functions that are intended to protect confidential information and negotiate international signal protection agreements. The task includes supporting the Chief of Armed Forces Training and Procurement in the acquisition of secure cryptographic functions and with statements regarding information technology security. The Director of Military Intelligence and Security shall lead and coordinate the development of the intelligence and security service within the Swedish Armed Forces within the framework of the Armed Forces' operational plan and the Supreme Commander's operational assignment. The Director of Military Intelligence and Security shall support the Chief of Defence Staff and prepare the documents or perform the tasks that the Chief of Defence Staff or the head of the Headquarters decides on within the framework of the Headquarters' operations.

Furthermore, the Director of Military Intelligence and Security shall, with the support of the Chief of Joint Operations, obtain military unit evaluation as a basis for the Chief of Joint Operations' tactical and operational evaluation and support the Chief of Defence Staff's overall evaluation of the operational capability. The Director of Military Intelligence and Security shall support the Government Offices in matters relating to crypto operations and other signal protection activities.

Directors of Military Intelligence and Security

No. Portrait Director of Military Intelligence and Security Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch Supreme Commander Ref.
1
Erik Rossander
Major general
Erik Rossander
(born 1939)
October 199319995–6 years
Army
Bengt Gustafsson
Owe Wiktorin
2
Håkan Syrén
Major general
Håkan Syrén
(born 1952)
1 October 199931 January 20033 years, 122 days
Navy
(Amphibious Corps)
Owe Wiktorin
Johan Hederstedt
-
Håkan Pettersson
Brigadier general
Håkan Pettersson
(born 1947)
Acting
1 January 200419 February 200449 days
Air Force
Håkan Syrén
3
Håkan Pettersson
Major general
Håkan Pettersson
(born 1947)
20 February 200431 May 20073 years, 100 days
Air Force
Håkan Syrén
4
Stefan Kristiansson
Major general
Stefan Kristiansson
(born 1951)
June 200730 September 20124–5 years
Army
Håkan Syrén
Sverker Göranson
5
Gunnar Karlson
Major general
Gunnar Karlson
(born 1958)
1 October 201230 April 20196 years, 211 days
Army
Sverker Göranson
Micael Bydén
6
Lena Hallin
Major general
Lena Hallin
(born 1961)
1 May 201930 April 20233 years, 364 days
Air Force
Micael Bydén
7
Thomas Nilsson
Lieutenant general
Thomas Nilsson
(born 1963)
1 May 2023Incumbent278 days
Air Force
Micael Bydén

Deputy Directors of Military Intelligence & Security

No. Portrait Deputy Director of Military Intelligence and Security Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch Prime Minister Ref.
1
Nils-Ove Jansson
Captain
Nils-Ove Jansson
(born 1946)
199419950–1 years
Navy
Owe Wiktorin
2
Håkan Pettersson
Brigadier general
Håkan Pettersson
(born 1947)
199520048–9 years
Air Force
Owe Wiktorin
Johan Hederstedt
Håkan Syrén
3
Stefan Kristiansson
Brigadier general
Stefan Kristiansson
(born 1951)
May 2004June 20072–3 years
Army
Håkan Syrén
4
Mats Engman
Brigadier general
Mats Engman
(born 1954)
September 2007July 20080–1 years
Air Force
Håkan Syrén
5
Pontus Melander
Pontus Melander
(born 1963)
October 200820101–2 years-Håkan Syrén
Sverker Göranson
6
Helena Rietz
Helena Rietz
(born 1968)
201020132–3 years-Sverker Göranson
7
Julius Liljeström
Julius Liljeström
(born 1969)
201420161–2 years-Sverker Göranson
Micael Bydén
-
8
Kristina Bergendal
Kristina Bergendal
(born 1963)
1 May 201630 September 20182 years, 152 days-Micael Bydén
9
Lena Hallin
Brigadier general
Lena Hallin
(born 1961)
1 October 201830 April 2019211 days
Air Force
Micael Bydén
10
Daniel Olsson
Daniel Olsson
(born ?)
1 October 201920233–4 years-Micael Bydén
11
Henrik Garmer
Henrik Garmer
(born 1975)
7 August 2023Incumbent180 days-Micael Bydén