The Chief of Defence of Norway (Forsvarssjefen) is the highest ranking officer

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...

 of the Military of Norway, second only to the King of Norway. Even though he holds the same rank as the King of Norway, according to the Norwegian Constitution the King holds the highest command of the Army

Norwegian Army

Norway achieved full independence in 1905, and in the first century of its short life has contributed to two major conflicts, the Cold War and the War on Terror. The Norwegian Army currently operates in the north of Norway and in Afghanistan as well as in Eastern Europe. The Army is the oldest of...

, Air Force, Navy and Home Guard

Norwegian Home Guard

The Norwegian Home Guard , is a rapid mobilisation force in the Norwegian military. Founded 6 December 1946, it is the youngest branch in the Norwegian forces.-Organization:...

. He is the top advisor to the Government regarding military issues. He is responsible for carrying out the mission the King or Minister of Defence

Norwegian Ministry of Defence

The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of the formation and implementation of national security and defence policy, and for the overall management and control of the activities of subordinate agencies. The ministry is located at Glacisgata 1, Oslo,...

 gives to the Military. He is also Norway's representative to NATO's military committee.

The post was first established in 1940. Since October 2009 the position has been filled by General Harald Sunde.

Holders of the post

Name	Branch	Term began	Term ended
Major General Otto Ruge Otto Ruge Otto Ruge was a Norwegian general. He was Commander-in-chief of the Royal Norwegian Armed Forces after Nazi Germany's assault on Norway in April 1940.-Background:...	Army	18 May 1940	9 June 1940
Vacant (de facto Major General Carl Gustav Fleischer Carl Gustav Fleischer Carl Gustav Fleischer KCB was a Norwegian general and the first land commander to win a major victory against the Germans in the Second World War... )		10 June 1940	22 February 1942
Major General Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen was a Norwegian Army officer.From 1937 to 1941, Hansteen served as Norwegian Military attaché to Helsinki...	Army	23 February 1942	31 June 1944
HRH Crown Prince Olav Olav V of Norway Olav V was the king of Norway from 1957 until his death. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Olav was born in the United Kingdom as the son of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud of Norway...	Army	1 July 1944	15 July 1945
Lieutenant General Otto Ruge Otto Ruge Otto Ruge was a Norwegian general. He was Commander-in-chief of the Royal Norwegian Armed Forces after Nazi Germany's assault on Norway in April 1940.-Background:...	Army	16 July 1945	31 December 1945
Rear Admiral Elias Corneliussen Elias Corneliussen Elias Corneliussen was a Norwegian military officer, an admiral of the Royal Norwegian Navy. He served as acting Chief of Defence of Norway from January to May 1946....	Navy Royal Norwegian Navy The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...	1 January 1946	31 May 1946
Major General Halvor Hansson	Army	1 June 1946	31 July 1946
Lieutenant General Ole Berg Ole Berg Ole Berg was a Norwegian military officer. He participated in the defence during the German invasion of Norway in 1940.He built up the Norwegian police forces in Sweden from 1943 to 1945. He served as Chief of Defence of Norway from 1946 to 1955.In 1947 he was awarded the title of Commander with... (as Chief of the Defence Staff)	Army	1 August 1946	31 October 1955
Lieutenant General Finn Lambrechts Finn Lambrechts Finn Lambrechts was a Norwegian military officer, a Lieutenant General of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. He served as Chief of Defence of Norway from 1955 to 1956.-References:... (as Chief of the Defence Staff)	Air Force Royal Norwegian Air Force The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF...	1 November 1955	8 December 1956
Lieutenant General Bjarne Øen Bjarne Øen Bjarne Øen was a Norwegian pilot and military officer. During World War II he played a central role in building up the Norwegian Air Force in Canada and the United Kingdom.... (as Chief of the Defence Staff)	Air Force Royal Norwegian Air Force The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF...	10 January 1957	31 December 1962
Lieutenant General Bjarne Øen Bjarne Øen Bjarne Øen was a Norwegian pilot and military officer. During World War II he played a central role in building up the Norwegian Air Force in Canada and the United Kingdom....	Air Force Royal Norwegian Air Force The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF...	1 January 1963	31 December 1963
(Vice) Admiral Folke Hauger Johannessen Folke Hauger Johannessen Folke Hauger Johannessen was a Norwegian military officer, an admiral of the Royal Norwegian Navy. He served as Chief of Defence of Norway from 1964 to 1972....	Navy Royal Norwegian Navy The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...	1 January 1964	31 December 1972
General Herman Fredrik Zeiner-Gundersen Herman Fredrik Zeiner-Gundersen Herman Fredrik Zeiner-Gundersen was a Norwegian military officer, a general in the Norwegian Army. He served as Chief of Defence of Norway from 1972 to 1977.He was Chairman of the NATO Military Committee from 1977 to 1980....	Army	1 February 1972	20 March 1977
General Sverre B. Hamre Sverre B. Hamre Sverre Ludvig Borgund Hamre was a Norwegian general.He was born in Bergen, and graduated from military academy in London in 1943. He was dispatched to continental Europe where he took part in the D-day and the battles in Western Europe. He reached the ranks of colonel in 1965, major general in...	Army	21 March 1977	30 June 1982
General Sven Hauge Sven Hauge Sven Aage Hauge was a Norwegian military officer, a General of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. He served as Chief of Defence of Norway from 1982 to 1984. He was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav in 1982.-References:...	Air Force Royal Norwegian Air Force The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF...	1 July 1982	30 June 1984
General Fredrik Bull-Hansen Fredrik Bull-Hansen Fredrik Bull-Hansen is a Norwegian military officer, a General in the Norwegian Army. He served as Chief of Defence of Norway from 1984 to 1987....	Army	1 July 1984	31 August 1987
General Vigleik Eide Vigleik Eide Vigleik Eide was a Norwegian diplomat and military officer, a General in the Norwegian Army who served two years as Chief of Defence of Norway, and four years as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee.-Personal life:...	Army	31 August 1987	5 September 1989
Admiral Torolf Rein Torolf Rein Torolf Rein is a Norwegian military officer, an admiral of the Royal Norwegian Navy. He served as Chief of Defence of Norway from 1989 to 1994.-References:...	Navy Royal Norwegian Navy The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...	5 September 1989	31 October 1994
General Arne Solli Arne Solli Arne Solli is a Norwegian general who served as Chief of Defence of Norway from 31 October 1994 until 30 April 1999.In 1995 he was awarded the title of Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav.-References:...	Army	31 October 1994	30 April 1999
General Sigurd Frisvold Sigurd Frisvold Sigurd Frisvold is a Norwegian general who served as Chief of Defence of Norway from 30 April 1999 until 1 April 2005.-Awards:...	Army	1 May 1999	31 March 2005
General Sverre Diesen Sverre Diesen General Sverre Diesen is a Norwegian military officer and former Chief of Defence of Norway. Diesen was succeeded as Chief of Defence by Lieutenant General Harald Sunde on 1 October 2009.-References:* at...	Army	1 April 2005	30 September 2009
General Harald Sunde Harald Sunde (general) General Harald Sunde is the Chief of Defence of Norway, as of October 2010. He is a Norwegian military officer, and he is the head of Norway's National Joint Headquarters....	Army	1 October 2009	Incumbent