Michael Claesson

General Leif Michael Claesson (born 1 March 1965) is a Swedish Army officer. He currently serves as the Chief of Defence since 1 October 2024. Claesson began his military career in 1984 as a tank commander. He advanced through various positions, including instructor and company commander, while completing education at military institutions in Sweden and Germany. By 2001, he became a lieutenant colonel, serving in both national and international roles, including as a military adviser and representative to NATO and the EU. Promoted to brigadier general in 2013, Claesson held key leadership roles, such as commanding the Swedish ISAF contingent in Afghanistan and overseeing Nordic Battlegroup training. In 2018, he became a major general and Chief of Policy and Plans Department, later serving as Chief of Joint Operations and Commandant General in Stockholm in 2020. Promoted to lieutenant general, he became Chief of the Defence Staff in 2023. Finally, in 2024, he was appointed general and Chief of Defence, assuming the role on 1 October 2024.