Karl Lorentz Engelbrekt Engelbrektson is a Swedish Army officer and a former Force Commander of the Nordic Battlegroup. He was Chief of Training and Procurement from 2014 to 2016. Engelbrektson is currently serving as the Chief of Army.
Career
Engelbrektson was born in Falkenberg, Sweden, the son of Olle Engelbrektson and his wife Anneli. He grew up in Hunnebostrand. Engelbrektson attended Gullmarsskolan in Lysekil Municipality from 1979 to 1981 and then did his military service at Bohuslän Regiment in 1981. Engelbrektson attended the Swedish Infantry Officers’ College from 1982 to 1984 when he reached the rank of fänrik. After becoming an officer, he returned to his old regiment. In 1985 his left hand was severely injured in an accident involving explosives. He passed the Advanced Course at the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College from 1987 to 1988 and in connection with the disbandment of Bohuslän Regiment in 1991, Engelbrektson transferred to Värmland Regiment where he later was promoted to major. Engelbrektson passed the Staff Course at the Swedish National Defence College from 1991 to 1992 and attended the same college from 1994 to 1996. He then served at the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service and then the Ministry of Defence with arms control issues and became the first desk officer for European Union military co-operation. From 1998 to 1999, Engelbrektson organized a new joint training section within the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters. He attended the Geneva Centre for Security Policy focusing on International Relations and Conflict Management from 1999 to 2000. He was then tasked to organize and lead a new international manning section within the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters. In 2001, Engelbrektson was appointed deputy brigade commander of Gotland Regiment and from December 2003 until June 2004 he was commander of the 9th Swedish battalion, part of Kosovo Force, in Kosovo, where he experienced the mid-March fights in Čaglavica. He also served as deputy commander in the German EU Force Headquarters in Ulm, Germany. In June 2004, he was appointed acting commanding officer of Gotland Military District, a position he held until January 2005 when he was appointed Force Commander of the Nordic Battlegroup. Engelbrektson left that position in July 2008. During this time, he also passed the Senior Course in National Security at the Swedish National Defence College from 2004 to 2006. From 2009 to 2010, Engelbrektson did the Strategic Leadership and International Relations Course at the Royal College of Defence Studies in United Kingdom and from January 2010 until August 2010 he served as Military Advisor, European Union and NATO Policy at the Ministry of Defence in Stockholm. From September 2010 he served as military representative to the European Union and NATO in the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union. From 2013 to 2014, Engelbrektson was chairman of the NATO Connecting Forces Initiative, Task Force; negotiating new partnerships on behalf of seven nations in view of the 2014 Wales summit. Engelbrektson was Chief of Training and Procurement from 2014 to 2016 before being appointed Chief of Army starting from 1 June 2016.
Personal life
Engelbrektson is married to Sofi and they have two children.
