Arvas was born on 22 September 1913 in Arvidsjaur, Sweden, the son of Birger Arvas and his wife Elsa. He passed studentexamen in Djursholm in 1932 and was commissioned as a naval officer in 1935 with the rank of fänrik. He was then on leave one summer for traveling with the Swedish sailing school's Kaparen in western European waters and he was educated at the Physical Training School from 1937 to 1938. Arvas attended the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College from 1940 to 1942 and served aboard torpedo boats and destroyers. He also served as flag lieutenant to the chief of the Coastal Fleet from 1945 to 1948. Arvas served as captain of the destroyer from 1950 to 1951 and commander of a destroyer squadron in 1954. He was promoted to commander of the 2nd rank in 1953 and of the 1st rank in 1955. During the years 1946-1953, Arvas was a teacher in parallel with other service at both the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College and the Royal Swedish Air Force Staff College. The land service was characterized by his involvement in the Supreme Commander investigation and in the defense committee in 1955-1958 where the foundation for the light fleet and Navy Plan 60 were laid. Arvas served as head of the Operation Department in the Naval Staff from 1955 and as head of the Planning Department from 1958 to 1960 when he was promoted to captain. He then served as commanding officer of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla from 1960 to 1961 and as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff from 1961 to 1964. Arvas served as chief of Section 3 in the Naval Staff from 1964 to 1966 when he was promoted to rear admiral. He was then chief of the Coastal Fleet from 1966 to 1970, chairman of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences from 1966 to 1969, and chief of the Military Office of the Minister of Defence from 1970 to 1978. After his retirement in 1978 he was, among other things, a special investigator in the 1978 Civil Military Investigation.
Personal life
In 1939, he married Gunvor Milles, the daughter of Tage Milles and Thora. Children: Christer and Stig. Arvas died on 1 February 2004 and was buried in Djursholm's Cemetery on 16 April 2004.
