Johan Norlén

Rear Admiral Johan Norlén (born 22 January 1971) is a Swedish Navy officer. He currently serves as Chief of Navy. Norlén became a naval officer in 1994 and has held various roles aboard surface combat ships and within military staffs. He pursued advanced studies in France and Sweden, including at the École de Guerre and the Swedish Defence University. Promoted to captain in 2020 and rear admiral (lower half) in 2023, he served in key leadership positions, including commanding the 31st Corvette Division and later acting as a military adviser at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. On 14 November 2024, he became Chief of Navy, succeeding Rear Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum.

Early life Norlén graduated from Lerums gymnasium in Lerum in 1990.

Career Norlén became a naval officer in 1994 and served in various roles aboard surface combat ships and within different staffs. He attended the École militaire and the Ecole de Guerre in France.

In March 2016, he assumed command of the 31st Corvette Division (31. korvettdivisionen) in Karlskrona, a position he held until September 2017.

From October 2017 to December 2019, Norlén served as Chief of the Planning Section in the Naval Staff. On 1 December 2021, he was appointed Head of P/G within the same department.

In September 2022, Norlén attended the Institut des hautes études de défense nationale and the in Paris, completing his studies there between 2022 and 2023. On 14 November 2024, Norlén succeeded Rear Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum as Chief of Navy. The handover ceremony took place at Berga Naval Base, during which he was promoted to rear admiral.

Dates of rank 1994 – Acting sub-lieutenant ?– Sub-lieutenant ? – Lieutenant ? – Lieutenant commander ? – Commander 1 January 2020 – Captain 15 October 2023 – Rear admiral (lower half) 14 November 2024 – Rear admiral

Awards and decorations

50x50px H. M. The King's Medal, 8th size gold (silver-gilt) medal worn on the chest suspended by the Order of the Seraphim ribbon (2022)

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences (2023) Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences, Department II (22 May 2024)