Eirik Kristoffersen

Eirik Johan Kristoffersen (born April 3, 1969, in Bjerkvik) is a Norwegian Army General who serves as the head of the Norwegian Armed Forces. He is a former Chief of the Norwegian Army and Norwegian Home Guard, and Chief of the Armed Forces' Special Command (FSK).[1]

Eirik Kristoffersen
Kristoffersen as a Colonel in 2011
Born (1969-04-03) April 3, 1969
Bjerkvik, Norway
AllegianceNorway
Service/branch Norwegian army
Years of service1988–
Rank General
Commands held
  • Chief of Defence
  • Chief of the Norwegian Army
  • Chief of the Norwegian Home Guard
  • Deputy Commander, Norwegian Special Operations Command
  • Commander Armed Forces' Special Command
Battles/warsOperation Enduring Freedom ISAF UNIFIL
Awards
  • War Cross with Sword
  • Defence Cross of Honour
  • Defense Service Medal with Laurel Branch
  • Defense Service Medal with one star
  • Medal for Defence Operations Abroad
  • Medal for Defense Service Abroad with Rosette
  • Medal for Defense Service Abroad (V for five deployments) – Afghanistan
  • National Army Service Medal with three stars
  • United Nations Interim Forces Lebanon (UNIFIL)
  • NATO Medal – ISAF Afghanistan
  • The National Rifle Association of Norway Insignia
  • Danish Home Guard Medal of Merit
  • Swedish Home Guard Medal of Merit
  • Latvian Special Forces Medal of Honor
  • KNBLO-medal (Nijmegen)
Alma mater
Spouse(s)Linn Therece Johansen
Eirik Kristoffersen in the Tora Bora mountains in 2002

Kristoffersen is the first Norwegian defense chief since World War II, with battle experience. He was awarded the War Cross with Sword in 2011 for his service in Afghanistan.[2]

Military career

Kristoffersen enrolled in non-commissioned officers’ in 1988 and served as squad leader in the Engineer Battalion. After a few months studying engineering in college, he returned to military service in 1989 and served as squad leader in a pioneer platoon in UNIFIL (1991-1992).

From 1995-2000 he held several positions in the Reconnaissance Battalion, and underwent a selection process for FSK in 2000. In 2001 he was sent to Afghanistan as part of Operation Anaconda and also served in Lebanon.[2]

He spent 12 years in FSK between 2000 and 2014, rising in the ranks from patrol member to commander. In 2014, he was appointed deputy Commander Norwegian Special Operations Command, before heading to Norwegian Joint Headquarters.

Later in 2017, he was appointed Commander Norwegian Home Guard, Commander Norwegian Army in 2019 and finally Chief of Defence in August 2020.[3][4][5]

Military education

1988–1989 Non-commissioned officers’ training school, 1992–1995 Military Academy, Army, 2008–2009 USMC Command and Staff College, 2014–2015 United States Army War College.

Authorship

With his military experience, Kristoffersen wrote the book Jegerånden- Å lede i fred, krise og krig (The Hunter Spirit – to lead in peace, crisis and war) (2020) which received good reviews and high sales figures in Norway.[6]

Awards and decorations

Kristoffersen is one of Norway's most highly decorated soldiers still on active duty.[7] He has received the following awards:[3]

Norwegian medals and awards
War Cross with Sword
Norwegian Defence Cross of Honour
Defence Service Medal with Laurel Branch
Norwegian Home Guard Medal of Merit
Defense Service Medal with one star
Defence Medal for International Operations with 2 stars
Medal for Defence Service Abroad with Rosette
Medal for Defence Operations Abroad Afghanistan V
Military Service Medal Army with 3 stars
United Nations Medal UNIFIL
 NATO Medal ISAF
National Rifle Association of Norway Badge of Honour
Brigadeveteranforbundet (No) Badge of Honour
Norwegian defence shooting badge
Norwegian defence military sports badge

Foreign decorations
Danish Home Guard Medal of Merit
 Swedish Home Guard Royal Medal of Merit
 Latvian Special Forces Honor Medal
 Cross for the Four Day Marches
 Navy Presidential Unit Citation[Note 1]

Other awards
Order of Saint Maurice – Chief of Infantry of US Army
The Defense Gender Equality Award

Personal life

Kristoffersen lives with his wife Linn Therece Johansen and has four children from former marriages.[8] His interests include hunting and football.[9]

Notes
  1. FSK unit citation as part of Task Force K-Bar, Afghanistan

References
  1. "Eirik Kristoffersen, Chief of Defence of Norway". NATO.
  2. "New chief's been in battles before". newsinenglish.no.
  3. "CURRICULUM VITAE" (PDF). forsvaret.no. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  4. "Kristoffersen takes over as Norway's Chief of Defence". Norwegian Armed Forces.
  5. "Curriculum Vitae" (PDF) (in Norwegian Bokmål). Norwegian Armed Forces. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  6. Eirik Kristoffersen:Jegerånden- Å lede i fred, krise og krig, Gyldendal (2020) ISBN 9788205545335 (in Norwegian)
  7. "Eirik Kristoffersen blir ny forsvarssjef" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Verdens Gang. 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  8. Veum, Eirik (August 26, 2020). "Åpenhjertig forsvarssjef om krig og kjærlighet" (in Norwegian). NRK.
  9. "Arven fra bestefar". forsvaretsforum.no. October 19, 2018.
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