Sten Swedlund

Rear Admiral Sten Gustaf Ivar Swedlund (13 March 1937 – 14 July 2014) was a Swedish Navy officer. Swedlund's senior commands include as commander of the South Coast Naval Base from 1987 to 1990 and Commander-in-Chief of the Coastal Fleet from 1990 to 1994. After retiring from the military, Swedlund became involved in the Red Cross's international aid activities in Yugoslavia, North Korea and Iraq during the Iraq War.

Early life Swedlund was born on 13 March 1937 in in Uppsala Municipality, Sweden, the son of , an archivist, and his wife Ingrid (née Tobé). His uncle was General Nils Swedlund, the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces from 1951 to 1961. Sten Swedlund passed studentexamen in Gothenburg in 1956 and was accepted in 1958 as an officer candidate at the Royal Swedish Naval Academy in Stockholm. As an officer candidate at the Naval Academy, he took part in 's voyage which that year went to the West Indies, Costa Rica, Mexico and the west Coast of the United States through the Panama Canal and Canada.

Career Swedlund graduated from the Royal Swedish Naval Academy in 1961 and was commissioned as an officer the same year. Swedlund was appointed orderly officer for Crown Prince Carl Gustaf and was course director when the Crown Prince did his military service at the Royal Swedish Naval Academy and aboard . Afterwards, Swedlund became ADC to the Crown Prince in 1968. and served as commanding officer of the submarine from 1968 to 1969. Swedlund was promoted to commander on 1 February 1975, and attended the Naval War College in the United States from 1978 to 1979. He was promoted to captain in 1983 and appointed commanding officer of the 1st Submarine Flotilla. Swedlund was appointed commanding officer of the South Coast Naval Base and promoted to senior captain on 1 October 1987. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1990 and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Coastal Fleet. He served in this position until 1994 when he retired.

Swedlund served as aide-de-camp to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Carl Gustaf's staff from 1968 and in His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf's staff after he ascended the throne in 1973. Swedlund served as chief aide-de-camp (överadjutant) to His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf from 1983 to 1996. During his military career, Swedlund also served as vice chairman of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences from 1987 to 1994 and sat on the board of the National Swedish Museums of Military History (Statens försvarshistoriska museer, SFHM) from 1988 to 1994.

Swedlund was also the 7th Inspectore Emeriti of the SjöLund naval academic association.

Personal life In 1962, Swedlund married Ingrid Lindén (born 1940), the daughter of Anders Lindén and Kerstin (née Markfors).

Dates of rank 1961 – Acting sub-lieutenant 19?? – Sub-lieutenant 1969 – Lieutenant 1972 – Lieutenant commander 1 February 1975 – Commander 1983 – Captain 1987 – Senior captain 1990 – Rear admiral

Awards and decorations

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences (1980) Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1993)