Kjell Nilsson

Lieutenant General Kjell Gustav Nilsson (2 August 1943 – 12 January 2018) was a Swedish Air Force officer, ice hockey player and sports administrator. Nilsson's senior commands includes commander of the Northern Air Command (1995–1996), Chief of Staff of the Northern Military District (1996–1998), and Chief of Joint Operations Command (1998–2000). Nilsson served as chairman of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association from June 2002 to June 2004.

Career

Military career Nilsson began his military career as an air force officer candidate in 1964 at the Swedish Air Force Flying School in Ljungbyhed. Nilsson was commissioned as an officer in the Swedish Air Force in 1967 as second lieutenant. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1969 and to captain in 1972. Nilsson served as squadron commander at Bråvalla Wing in Norrköping from 1973 to 1976. During his career, Nilsson flew, among others, J 28 Vampire, Saab 29 Tunnan, Saab 32 Lansen, Saab 35 Draken and Saab 37 Viggen. and served as Deputy Sector Wing Commander and Wing Commander of Uppland Wing (F 16/Se M) in Uppsala. and he then served from 1992 to 1994 as head of the Production Command (Produktionsledningen) in the Air Staff. From 1993 to 1994 he was Acting Chief of the Air Staff. From 1994 to 1995, Nilsson was head of the Production Department in the Air Force Command and from 1995 to 1996, he was head of the Northern Air Command. In 1996, Nilsson was promoted to major general and was appointed Chief of Staff of the Northern Military District. Two years later, on 1 July 1998, Nilsson was promoted to lieutenant general and was appointed Chief of the Joint Operations Command (Operationsledningen, OPL). He retired from active service in 2000. Later in his career, he represented AIK and Rögle, among others. In the latter club he was also chairman from 2005 to 2009.

Personal life He was married to Maud from Karlskoga and they had two children. Nilsson lived in Vallentuna where he was the coach of Vallentuna hockey school, youth team, junior and senior team. He was interred on 9 February 2018 at Nya Kyrkogården in .

Dates of rank 1967 – Second lieutenant 1969 – Lieutenant 1972 – Captain 1978 – Major 1983 – Lieutenant colonel 1 July 1990 – Colonel 1 July 1992 – Senior colonel 1996 – Major general 1998 – Lieutenant general