Michael Claesson

Michael Claesson
Claesson in 2024
Birth name	Leif Michael Claesson
Born	(1965-03-01) 1 March 1965 (age 59) Bankeryd, Sweden
Allegiance	Sweden
Service / branch	Swedish Army
Years of service	1987–present
Rank	General
Commands	Norrbotten Armoured Battalion Land Warfare Centre FS 24, Afghanistan Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans Department Chief of Policy and Plans Department Chief of Joint Operations Commandant General in Stockholm Chief of the Defence Staff Chief of Defence
Battles / wars	Kosovo War War in Afghanistan

General Michael Claesson (born 1 March 1965) is a Swedish Army officer. He currently serves as the Chief of Defence since 1 October 2024.^[1] Claesson began his military career in 1984 as a tank commander. He advanced through various positions, including instructor and company commander, while completing education at military institutions in Sweden and Germany. By 2001, he became a lieutenant colonel, serving in both national and international roles, including as a military adviser and representative to NATO and the EU. Promoted to brigadier general in 2013, Claesson held key leadership roles, such as commanding the Swedish ISAF contingent in Afghanistan and overseeing Nordic Battlegroup training. In 2018, he became a major general and Chief of Policy and Plans Department, later serving as Chief of Joint Operations and Commandant General in Stockholm in 2020. Promoted to lieutenant general, he became Chief of the Defence Staff in 2023. Finally, in 2024, he was appointed general and Chief of Defence, assuming the role on 1 October 2024.