Jens Stefenson

Captain Jens Harald Stefenson (1 February 1895 – 1 March 1986) was a Swedish Navy officer and diver who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.

Early life Stefenson was born on 1 February 1895 in Örebro, Sweden, the son of Per Karlsson, a master builder, and his wife Vilhelmina (née Larsson). At the 1912 Olympic Games he was eliminated in the first round of the 10 metre platform competition as well as in the plain high diving event. Stefenson then passed studentexamen in 1913.

Career Stefenson attended the Royal Swedish Naval Academy from 1913 to 1916 and the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College in 1922. Stefenson became a navigation teacher in 1924 and was commissioned as a naval officer in the Swedish Navy in 1916 with the rank of acting sub-lieutenant. He was promoted to sub-lieutenant in 1918, lieutenant in 1929, commander of the second rank in 1939, of the first rank in 1942, and to captain in 1944.

During postings on cadet ships, he participated in several trips to the Mediterranean, South America, and countries in Northern and Western Europe. He held postings as a cadet officer and navigation officer in a dozen naval expeditions from 1922 to 1932, as commander on torpedo boats and destroyers, as well as head of the department of the School of Naval Warfare Department (Sjökrigsskoleavdelningen).

Dates of rank 1916 – Acting sub-lieutenant 1918 – Sub-lieutenant 1929 – Lieutenant 1939 – Lieutenant commander 1942 – Commander 1944 – Captain

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences (1933) Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1947)