Jörgen Ericsson

Jörgen Fredrik Ericsson (born 25 November 1953) is a Swedish Navy rear admiral. His appointments include commanding officer of the 3rd Surface Warfare Flotilla from 1999 to 2001, the Inspector (General) of the Navy from 2001 to 2005 and Chief of Staff as well as head of the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters from 2005 to 2007.

Career
Ericsson was born in Falu Kristine parish in Kopparberg County, Sweden Ericsson enrolled at the Royal Swedish Naval Academy in 1972, then located in Näsbypark north of Stockholm. He then held different position up to second-in-command (sekond) position on destroyers, torpedo boats and missile boats. Ericsson was also a teacher in combat management and torpedo/RBS-15 at the Surface Attack School (Ytattackskolan) and the Telecommunications Combat School (Telestridsskola) at the Swedish Naval Training Establishment (Berga örlogsskolor) and at the Royal Swedish Naval Academy. During this time, Ericsson also passed the general course of the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College from 1982 to 1983 and the higher course from 1988 to 1990, focusing on operations/strategy. He also passed the staff course at the National War College in United States from 1988 to 1990. He served as flag lieutenant (flaggadjutant) in staff of the Coastal Fleet from 1990 to 1992, responsible for operational initiatives, such as anti-submarine warfare. Ericsson then served as preparedness officer in the Defence Staff's Operarational Department 2/Swedish Armed Forces Headquarter's Implementation Department from 1992 to 1994. During the period 1993-2001 he was also aide-de-camp to His Majesty the King.

Ericsson spent a year at the Naval Command College at the Naval War College in the United States from 1994 to 1995. He was commanding officer of the 31st Corvette Division (31. korvettdivisionen) from 1995 to 1996 as well as captain of the corvette HSWMS Malmö (K12). He served as commanding officer of the missile boat division of the Coastal Fleet from 1 January 1996. In 1997 he served as acting head of the Planning Department of the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarter's Planning Staff and from 1998 to 1999, he was the head of the same department. Also in 1998, Ericsson passed the senior management course at the Swedish National Defence College. Ericsson was then commanding officer of the 3rd Surface Warfare Flotilla from 1999 to 2001. In 2000 he completed the Swedish National Defence College's senior executive course at Solbacka in Södermanland. He was promoted to rear admiral (lower half) (flottiljamiral) on 15 March 2001 and Ericsson assumed the position of Inspector General of the Navy as well as head of the Naval Tactical Command on 1 October 2001 and was promoted to rear admiral (konteramiral). At a ceremony held at Berga naval base on 28 September 2001, Ericsson received the navy's command sign from rear admiral Torsten Lindh.

In 2002 Ericsson passed the Senior International Defense Management Course at the Naval Postgraduate School in United States. The year after he was appointed chief aide-de-camp in the His Majesty the King's Staff. Also in 2003, the title Inspector General of the Navy was changed and Ericsson now became Inspector of the Navy in the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters. He left the position in 2005 and on 1 May he was appointed Chief of Staff as well as head of the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters. He was at the same time also head of the Swedish Armed Forces Special Forces (Försvarsmaktens specialförband, FM SF). As Chief of Staff, Ericsson was responsible for developing the headquarter's organization and working methods. On 1 April 2007, the developed organization was implemented and Ericsson was appointed head of the Strategy Department in the Swedish Armed Forces Joint Staff (Ledningsstaben) (C LEDS STRA) which he was until 2009. Ericsson was after this head of the Joint Staff's Planning and Finance Department (C LEDS PLANEK) from 2009 to 2010. Ericsson was then defence attaché in Washington, D.C. from 2011 to 2014. He retired from active service on 1 April 2015.

Beside his naval career, Ericsson has been active in different military societies and associations. he became a member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences in 1995 and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences in 2001. He became vice president of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences in 2017. Ericsson was also national honorary chairman of the Flottans Mäns Association from 2001 to 2005. Ericsson was also chairman of the Naval Officers Society in Stockholm (Sjöofficerssällskapet i Stockholm) from 2003 to 2009 and chairman of the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarter's Friends Association (HKV Kamratförening) from 2005.

Personal life
In 1981 he married Malin (née Lennmor). They have two children, Caroline and Anders.

Dates of rank

 * 1975 – Sub-lieutenant (Löjtnant)
 * 1978 – Lieutenant (Kapten)
 * 1982 – Lieutenant commander (Örlogskapten)
 * 1992 – Commander (Kommendörkapten)
 * 1994 – Commander with special position (Kommendörkapten med särskild tjänsteställning)
 * 1996 – Captain (Kommendör)
 * 2001 – Rear admiral (lower half) (Flottiljamiral)
 * 2001 – Rear admiral (Konteramiral)

Awards and decorations
Ericsson's awards:

Swedish

 * Swedish Armed Forces Conscript Medal
 * H. M. The King's Medal, 8th size gold (silver-gilt) medal worn on the chest suspended by the Order of the Seraphim ribbon (1998)
 * For Zealous and Devoted Service to the State (2005)
 * Flottans Mäns Association's Anchor Medal in Gold (Föreningen Flottans Mäns Ankarmedalj i guld)
 * HM Konungens minnesmedalj (1996)

Foreign

 * Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (1994)
 * Commander of the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins (1996)
 * Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1998)
 * Commander of the Order of May (1999)
 * Meritorious Service Medal (Military) (2004)
 * La Condecoración a la Distinción Naval (2004; Mexico)
 * Commander of the Order of the Three Stars (2005)
 * First Class of the Order Of The Madar Horseman with Swords (2007; Bulgaria)