Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen
Chief of Defence – Norway
2013
Admiral Bruun-Hanssen was born in Bergen on 8th July 1960. He started his military career at naval petty officer training course in Stavanger in 1980, and served at the recruit training centre until he started the naval academy in 1983.
After graduating from the naval academy in 1987 Bruun-Hanssen served in various positions onboard the Kobben class submarines before he attended the commanding officer qualifying course in 1991. On completion he served as Commanding officer of HNoMS Kobben (1991-92) and later as Commanding officer of the newer Ula-class submarine HNoMS Utstein (93-95).
Following his second command tour, Bruun-Hanssen was promoted Commander and joined the Navy Staff, Plans & Policy department as a staff officer. During this appointment he was the Norwegian project officer to BALTRON, the NATO support to the three Baltic countries during their establishment of a common Mine Counter Measure Squadron. In 1998-99 Bruun-Hanssen attended the Dutch higher level staff college (IDL) in Hague, Holland, after which he served 4 years at the national staff college in Oslo - first as a faculty advisor for military operations, and later as tutor in military history and strategy.
Bruun-Hanssen attended the national defence college in 2003. He was subsequently promoted Captain (N) and appointed chief of the naval operation center at the national joint headquarters in Stavanger. In this position he was maritime adviser to Joint Force Commander Norway and was responsible for the execution of his command over and control with all Norwegian maritime units, navy and coastguard.
In November 2006 Bruun-Hanssen was promoted to Commodore and appointed as Chief of Staff, Naval Staff. In this function he supported the final stages of the transformation of the Norwegian Navy into more modern, agile and deployable force. Bruun-Hanssen also attended NATO Combined Maritime Component Commander Flag Course during this period after which he was promoted Rear Admiral and Chief Royal Norwegian Navy on 26th August 2008. During his tenure as Navy Chief, his main focus was to complete the successful renewal of the navy’s surface fleet. To this end, the navy now operates Aegis frigates of the Nansen class, Skjold class corvettes and plans for a new fleet support ship are now being realised.
Haakon Bruun-Hanssen was promoted Vice Admiral and COM Norwegian Joint Headquarters 24th of May 2011. In this position he was responsible for all Norwegian military operations, domestic and abroad. His focus was on establishing a fully operational HQ, the cooperation with Russia and the HQs connection to NATO.
The 19th November 2013 Bruun-Hanssen was promoted to Admiral and Chief of Defence Norway.
Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen is married to Hege, and they have two children.
GENERAL INFORMATION
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Haakon Bruun-Hanssen Started his service in 1980 |
POSITIONS
| 2013- | Chief of Defence | |
| Admiral |
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| 2011 - 13 | Commander, Norwegian Joint Headquarters | |
| Vice Admiral | ||
| 2008 - 11 | Chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy | |
| Rear Admiral | ||
| 2006 - 08 | Chief of Staff/Naval Staff/ Defence Staff Norway | |
| Commodore | ||
| 2003 -06 | Chief Naval Operations Centre, JFC Norway | |
| Captain (Navy) | ||
| 2001 – 03 | Tutor in Military History and Strategy, Joint Staff College | |
| Commander Senior Grader | ||
| 1999 - 01 | Faculty Advisor, Joint Staff College | |
| Commander | ||
| 1995 - 98 | Staff Officer, Plans and Policy, Naval Staff | |
| Lieutenant Commander/Commander | ||
| 1993 – 95 | Commanding Officer, HNoMS Utstein | |
| Lieutenant Commander | ||
| 1991 - 92 | Commanding Officer, HNoMS Kobben | |
| Lieutenant Commander | ||
| 1989 - 91 | Executive Officer, HNoMS Utstein | |
| Lieutenant/Lieutenant Commander | ||
| 1988 – 89 | Navigations Officer, HNoMS Utstein | |
| Lieutenant | ||
| 1987 – 88 | Torpedo Officer, HNoMS Utstein | |
| Lieutenant | ||
| 1981 – 83 | Instructor Petty Officer Training School, Stavanger | |
| Second Lieutenant |
MILITARY EDUCATION
| 2003 | Defence College, Oslo | |
| 1998-1999 | Instituut Defencie Leergangen, Higher Staff College, Netherlands | |
| 1995 | Naval Staff College 1 | |
| 1991 | Submarine Commanding Officer Qualifying Course | |
| 1983-1987 | Naval Academy | |
| 1980 | Petty Officer Training School |
DECORATIONS
| 2013 | Norwegian Defence Cross of Honour | |
| 2011 | The Norwegian Civilian Rifle Assosiations Medal of Honour | |
| 2011 | The Legion of Merit, USA, Commander | |
| 2010 | Defence Service Medal with Star | |
| 2009 | Defence Service Medal with Laurel Branch | |
| 2009 | Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Grand Officer | |
| 1982 | National Service Medal – Navy with Three Stars |
BIO
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Admiral Bruun-Hanssen is married to Hege. Together they have two children. |