Overview
General Sten Bengt Gustaf Gustafsson (2 December 1933 – 15 March 2019) was a senior Swedish Army officer. Gustafsson's military career began as a sergeant pilot. He underwent various promotions and training, including attending the Royal Swedish Army Staff College and becoming an officer in Boden Engineer Corps. His roles ranged from lieutenant to colonel, and he served in important positions, such as Director at the Swedish Civil Defence Board and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence. Gustafsson's journey included attending the National Defence College and culminated in his appointment as Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces in 1986. His tenure saw challenges like submarine hunts and significant global events like the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact.
Additionally, Gustafsson held memberships and board positions in defense-related organizations, including the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences, the General Defense Association, Swedair, and the National Swedish Board of Voluntary Military Training. He retired in 1994.
Early life
Gustafsson was born on 2 December 1933 in Hästveda, Sweden, the son of Gustav Svensson, a radio technician, and his wife Frida (née Lundell). Gustafsson's early interests included football, handball, chess and bridge, running and high jump. In the primary school (folkskola), he did not like the teacher very well, but in the secondary school (realskola) it went better, but the adaptation was not quite good, as there was some teachers he found it hard to get along with. Gustafsson also had difficulty in being quiet at the lessons. Gustafsson graduated without any detention in the spring of 1950 with passed grades. Then he worked at a gas station until Christmas 1950, after which he quit there because it was too cold and badly paid. Gustafsson then worked at a social insurance agency with registers and such but thought it was monotonous.
For many years, he had thought to become a pilot, preferably officer, otherwise in the commercial aviation. He'd otherwise thought of a possible engineering education. Gustafsson studied at the education company Hermods AB, courses in practical mathematics, aerodynamics, aeronautics, airplane engines and materials.
Career
The characteristic statements made about Gustafsson dated 7 March 1951 read; In 1992, his appointment as Supreme Commander was extended to 1 July 1994, when he retired. Gustafsson became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences in 1979. In 1990, Gustafsson became an honorary member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences, but he left in 2004. Gustafsson became a board member of the General Defense Association (Allmänna försvarsföreningen) in 1982, of Swedair in 1983 and the National Swedish Board of Voluntary Military Training (Överstyrelsen för frivillig befälsutbildning) in 1984.
Personal life
In 1957 he married Inger Gustafsson.
Death
Gustafsson died in his home on 15 March 2019. The funeral was held at Hedvig Eleonora Church in Stockholm on 5 April 2019.
Swedish
* H. M. The King's Medal, 12th size gold medal with chain (1992) * Swedish Air Force Volunteers Association Medal of Merit in gold (1994) * Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences Medal of Reward in gold, 15th size (12 November 2016) * Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Organization Royal Medal of Merit (March 1990)
Foreign
* 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle (2 February 2005)