Bengt Gustafsson (general)

Sten Bengt Gustaf Gustafsson (born 2 December 1933) is a former Swedish Army general and Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces from 1986 to 1994.

Biography
Gustafsson was born in Hästveda, Sweden and was the son of radio technician Gustav Svensson and Frida (née Lundell). He attended the Royal Swedish Army Staff College in 1959 and became an officer at Boden Engineer Corps (Ing 3). Gustafsson was promoted to lieutenant in 1961 and attended the Military Academy in 1966 and was promoted to captain the following year. He was the General Staff Officer at the Army Staff and the Defence Staff from 1966 to 1979 and was Director at the Civil Defence Board (Civilförsvarsstyrelsen) from 1970 to 1973.

Gustafsson attended the National Defence College in 1971 and 1982. He was promoted to major in 1972, to lieutenant colonel in 1974 and to lieutenant colonel with special position held in 1975. Gustafsson was appointed battalion commander at Älvsborg Regiment (I 15) in 1979 and was promoted to colonel and was appointed regimental commander of Svealand Engineer Regiment (Ing 1) in 1981.

He was promoted to colonel of the 1st rank in 1982 and was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, a position he stayed in until 1984. Gustafsson was promoted to lieutenant general and was military commander of the Upper Norrland Military Area from 1984 to 1986. He was promoted to general and assumed the post of Supreme Commander in 1986 and stayed in that position until 1994.

Other work
Gustafsson became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences in 1979. He became a board member of the General Defense Association (Allmänna försvarsföreningen) in 1982, of Swedair in 1983 and the Board of Volunteering Officer Training (Överstyrelsen för frivillig befälsutbildning) in 1984.

Personal life
In 1957 he married Inger Gustafsson. They have three children, one son of two daughters.

Awards and decorations

 * H. M. The King's Medal, 12th size gold medal with chain (1992)