Eirik Kristoffersen

Eirik Kristoffersen
Eirik Kristoffersen
	Kristoffersen as a Colonel in 2011
Born	April 3, 1969; Bjerkvik, Norway
Allegiance	Norway
	Norwegian army
Years of service	1988–
Rank	General
Commands held	Chief of Defence; Chief of the Norwegian Army; Chief of the Norwegian Home Guard; Deputy Commander, Norwegian Special Operations Command; Commander Armed Forces' Special Command;
Battles/wars	Operation Enduring Freedom ISAF UNIFIL
Awards	War Cross with Sword; Defence Cross of Honour; Defense Service Medal with Laurel Branch; Defense Service Medal with one star; Medal for Defence Operations Abroad; Medal for Defense Service Abroad with Rosette; Medal for Defense Service Abroad (V for five deployments) – Afghanistan; National Army Service Medal with three stars; United Nations Interim Forces Lebanon (UNIFIL); NATO Medal – ISAF Afghanistan; The National Rifle Association of Norway Insignia; Danish Home Guard Medal of Merit; Swedish Home Guard Medal of Merit; Latvian Special Forces Medal of Honor; KNBLO-medal (Nijmegen);
Alma mater	USMC Command and Staff College; United States Army War College;
Spouse(s)	Linn Therece Johansen

Eirik Johan Kristoffersen (born April 3, 1969 in Bjerkvik) is an awarded Norwegian Army General who serves as the head of the Norwegian Armed Forces. He is a former Chief of the Norwegian Army and Norwegian Home Guard, and Chief of the Armed Forces' Special Command (FSK).[1]

Kristoffersen is the first Norwegian defense chief since World War II, with battle experience. He was awarded the War Cross with Sword in 2011 for his service in Afghanistan.[2]

Military career

Kristoffersen enrolled in non-commissioned officers’ in 1988. After a few months studying engineering in college, he returned to military service in 1989 and underwent a selection process for the Special Forces. In 2001 he was sent to Afghanistan as part of Operation Anaconda and also served in Lebanon.[2]

He spent 12 years in FSK between 2000 and 2014, rising in the ranks from patrol member to commander. In 2014 he was appointed deputy Commander Norwegian Special Operations Command, before heading to Norwegian Joint Headquarters.

Later in 2017 he was appointed Commander Norwegian Home Guard, Commander Norwegian Army in 2019 and finally Chief of Defence in August 2020.[3][4][5]

Military education

1988–1989 Non-commissioned officers’ training school, 1992–1995 Military Academy, Army, 2008–2009 USMC Command and Staff College, 2014–2015 United States Army War College.

Authorship

With his military experience, Kristoffersen wrote the book Jegerånden- Å lede i fred, krise og krig (The Hunter Spirit – to lead in peace, crisis and war) (2020) which received good reviews and high sales figures in Norway.[6]

Awards and decorations

Kristoffersen is one of Norway's most highly awarded soldiers in active duty.[7] He has received the following awards:[3]

Norwegian medals and awards

	War Cross with Sword
	Norwegian Defence Cross of Honour
	Defence Service Medal with Laurel Branch
	Norwegian Home Guard Medal of Merit
	Defense Service Medal with one star
	Defence Medal for International Operations with 2 stars
	Medal for Defence Service Abroad with Rosette
	Medal for Defence Operations Abroad Afghanistan V
	Military Service Medal Army with 3 stars
	United Nations Medal UNIFIL
	NATO Medal ISAF
	The Norwegian Civilian Marksmanship Association Badge of Honour
	Brigadeveteranforbundet (No) Badge of Honour
	Norwegian defence shooting badge
	Norwegian defence military sports badge

Foreign decorations

	Danish Home Guard Medal of Merit
	Swedish Home Guard Royal Medal of Merit
	Latvian Special Forces Honor Medal
	Cross for the Four Day Marches
	Navy Presidential Unit Citation

Other awards

Order of Saint Maurice – Chief of Infantry of US Army

The Defense Gender Equality Award

Personal life

Kristoffersen lives with his fiancée Linn Therece Johansen and has four children from former marriages.[8] His interests include hunting and soccer.[9]

References

"Eirik Kristoffersen, Chief of Defence of Norway". NATO.
"New chief's been in battles before". www.newsinenglish.no.
"CURRICULUM VITAE" (PDF). www.forsvaret.no. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
"Kristoffersen takes over as Norway's Chief of Defence". Norwegian Armed Forces.
"Curriculum Vitae" (PDF) (in Norwegian Bokmål). Norwegian Armed Forces. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
Eirik Kristoffersen:Jegerånden- Å lede i fred, krise og krig, Gyldendal (2020) ISBN 9788205545335 (in Norwegian)
"Eirik Kristoffersen blir ny forsvarssjef" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Verdens Gang. 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
Veum, Eirik (August 26, 2020). "Åpenhjertig forsvarssjef om krig og kjærlighet". NRK (in Norwegian).
"Arven fra bestefar". forsvaretsforum.no. October 19, 2018.

Military offices
Preceded by Haakon Bruun-Hanssen	Chief of Defence of Norway 2020–	Succeeded by Incumbent

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[nato-1] "Eirik Kristoffersen, Chief of Defence of Norway". NATO.

[AutoK5-1-2] "New chief's been in battles before". www.newsinenglish.no.

[CV-3] "CURRICULUM VITAE" (PDF). www.forsvaret.no. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-12.

[4] "Kristoffersen takes over as Norway's Chief of Defence". Norwegian Armed Forces.

[5] "Curriculum Vitae" (PDF) (in Norwegian Bokmål). Norwegian Armed Forces. Retrieved 2020-11-12.

[6] Eirik Kristoffersen:Jegerånden- Å lede i fred, krise og krig, Gyldendal (2020) ISBN 9788205545335 (in Norwegian)

[7] "Eirik Kristoffersen blir ny forsvarssjef" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Verdens Gang. 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2020-11-12.

[8] Veum, Eirik (August 26, 2020). "Åpenhjertig forsvarssjef om krig og kjærlighet". NRK (in Norwegian).

[9] "Arven fra bestefar". forsvaretsforum.no. October 19, 2018.