Håkan Syrén
Encyclopedia
General
Håkan Erik Gunnar Syrén (born January 31, 1952) is a General
of the Swedish Amphibious Corps
and chairman of the European Union Military Committee
. He was the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces from January 1, 2004 to March 25, 2009, and was the first Supreme Commander to come from the Navy.
Syrén's military education has been carried out in part at the US Naval War College
and the US Naval Postgraduate School
. During the years 1999-2003, he was in charge of the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service, and as such rose to the rank of Lieutenant General
. When appointed Supreme Commander he was also promoted to General
. His appointment lasts until December 31, 2009.
On October 29, 2008 the Chiefs of Defence
meeting of the European Union Military Committee
(EUMC) endorsed Håkan Syren as the next chairman of the EUMC. In the position as CEUMC he was formally appointed by the Council of the European Union
for a period of three years and succeeded general Henri Bentégeat
on November 6, 2009. On March 25, 2009 he was succeeded by Sverker Göranson
as Supreme Commander.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Håkan Erik Gunnar Syrén (born January 31, 1952) is a General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
of the Swedish Amphibious Corps
Swedish Amphibious Corps
Amfibiekåren is the coastal defence arm of the Swedish Navy. Until 2000 it was known as Kustartilleriet , but the name was changed to reflect its different role in a post-Cold War world, where its amphibious special operations arm, "Kustjägarna", has grown in significance while its coastal...
and chairman of the European Union Military Committee
European Union Military Committee
The European Union Military Committee ' is a department of military officials under the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Political and Security Committee of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy. The EUMC gives military advice to...
. He was the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces from January 1, 2004 to March 25, 2009, and was the first Supreme Commander to come from the Navy.
Syrén's military education has been carried out in part at the US Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
and the US Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
. During the years 1999-2003, he was in charge of the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service, and as such rose to the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
. When appointed Supreme Commander he was also promoted to General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
. His appointment lasts until December 31, 2009.
On October 29, 2008 the Chiefs of Defence
Chief of Defence
The Chief of Defence is the highest ranked commissioned officer of a nation's armed forces. The term CHOD is in common use within NATO and the European Union as a generic term for the highest national military position within the NATO and EU member states, rather than the actual term used for...
meeting of the European Union Military Committee
European Union Military Committee
The European Union Military Committee ' is a department of military officials under the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Political and Security Committee of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy. The EUMC gives military advice to...
(EUMC) endorsed Håkan Syren as the next chairman of the EUMC. In the position as CEUMC he was formally appointed by the Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
for a period of three years and succeeded general Henri Bentégeat
Henri Bentégeat
Henri Bentégeat is a French Army general who served as the chairman of the European Union Military Committee between 2006 and 2009 .- Biography :...
on November 6, 2009. On March 25, 2009 he was succeeded by Sverker Göranson
Sverker Göranson
Sverker John Olof Göranson, born 3 May 1954 in Lund, is a General of the Swedish Army with an armoured forces background and is the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces since 25 March 2009, when he succeeded Håkan Syrén. Göranson was Inspector General of the Swedish Army from 2005 to...
as Supreme Commander.