Owe Wagermark

Senior Colonel Rolf Nils Ove (Owe) Wagermark (born 23 September 1951) is a retired Swedish Air Force officer. Wagermark commenced his military journey in the Swedish Air Force, starting at Roslagen Air Corps. Graduating from the Royal Swedish Air Force Academy in 1973, he served in various capacities, including Tactical and Air Defence Control System units. Noteworthy achievements include ranking top in advanced courses at both the French military schools, École militaire and École supérieure de guerre interarmées, marking the first time a Swedish officer claimed the top position in France. Wagermark served as ADC to Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland, and held significant roles in recruitment and information management within the Swedish Armed Forces. He served as Deputy Inspector of the Air Force from 1998 to 2000.

Transitioning from the military, Wagermark assumed roles in the private sector, notably with AT&T Nordics AB. He later served in senior positions within Saab AB, including chief of staff and senior adviser to the CEO. Currently, he holds the position of special adviser to the president and CEO of Saab AB within the CEO Office, alongside serving as a board member of the Swedish Indian Business Council (SIBC).

Early life Wagermark was born on 23 September 1951 in in the City of Stockholm. In 1967, during high school in Gävle, Wagermark and a classmate each won a trip to the Soviet Union as a prize for the best essays in an annual competition about the Soviet Union, organized by the Sweden-Soviet Union Association. Between 23 July and 13 August 1969, he participated as a flight cadet in the International Air Cadet Exchange in the United States. Wagermark passed gymnasieexamen in 1970.

Career

Military career Wagermark began his career in the Swedish Air Force at the now-defunct Roslagen Air Corps. He graduated from the Royal Swedish Air Force Academy (Flygvapnets krigsskola, F 20) in 1973 and was appointed lieutenant at Norrbotten Wing in Luleå the same year, where he served in the Tactical (Fighting Command) and Air Defence Control System unit from 1973 to 1977, promoted to captain in 1975. Wagermark was the course director for the Air Force Cadet and Aspirant School for the Ground Program (Flygvapnets kadett- och aspirantskola för marklinjen, KAS/M) and also served as chief of staff at the Air Force Södertörn Schools (Flygvapnets Södertörnsskolor) from 1977 to 1980. He attended the General Course on the Air Program at the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College from 1979 to 1980 and the Officer Course at the Swedish Parachute Ranger School in 1981, The following year, he graduated as the top student among 77 peers from 33 countries at the French War College, École supérieure de guerre interarmées, in Paris, after nearly two years of study. This marked the first time a Swedish officer had achieved the top position in France. Wagermark served as a staff officer and section chief in the Operations Command of the Defence Staff from 1987 to 1989. In 1988, he completed the Orientation Course at the Swedish National Defence College and was promoted to lieutenant colonel the same year. He served as the Swedish Armed Forces' information chief at the Defence Staff from 1993 to 1994 and at the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters from 1994 to 1997. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel with special employment status in 1993 and to colonel in 1994. Wagermark declined the position as a military advisor at the UN because the Ministry for Foreign Affairs demanded that he first enhance his international competence with at least seven months of work in various positions abroad. The Swedish Armed Forces suspected that former Defence Minister Thage G. Peterson had been acting behind the scenes. Peterson was said to have been upset by Wagermark's actions during the so-called Volvo affair in Arboga.

In 1997, he attended the United Nations Staff Officers Course at the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre (Försvarsmaktens internationella centrum, Swedint). A couple of months later, it was reported that Wagermark had chosen to leave the Swedish Armed Forces as he had accepted an offer from the public relations firm Kreab. There, according to his own statement, he would work on education, crisis management, media, and leadership issues for companies. Wagermark served as Vice President at Kreab for seven months before rejoining the Swedish Air Force on 1 July 1998, as a senior colonel and Chief of Staff at the Air Force Center, which replaced the Air Force Command at Headquarters in Stockholm. He thereby became the deputy to Major General Jan Jonsson, while also serving as the Deputy Inspector General of Air Force. as the deputy military representative to the European Union Military Committee.

Personal life Wagermark is married to the social worker Margareta. They have two children, Maria and Martin.

Wagermark is the Grand Prior (national leader) of the Knights Templar in Sweden. He is the former chairman of the Swedish Air Force Fan Club.

Awards and decorations 50px H. M. The King's Medal, 8th size gold (silver-gilt) medal worn on the chest suspended by the Order of the Seraphim ribbon (1988)

Dates of rank 1973 - Lieutenant 1975 - Captain 1983 - Major 1988 - Lieutenant colonel 1993 – 1994 – Colonel 1998 – Senior colonel

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1996) Member of the French Académie de l'air et de l'espace