WThe Chief of the Defence Staff was from 1937 to 1993 the second most senior member of the Swedish Armed Forces and headed the Defence Staff. The position was held by a senior member of one of the three main branches of the Swedish Armed Forces.
WLieutenant General Richard "Riri" Oscar Roger Åkerman was a Swedish Army officer. He was Chief of the Defence Staff from 1951 to 1957 and military commander of the III Military District from 1957 to 1963, when he retired.
WGeneral Carl Eric Åke Almgren was a Swedish Army officer. Almgren served as Chief of the Defence Staff from 1961 to 1967, military commander of the Eastern Military District from 1967 to 1969 and as the Chief of the Army from 1969 to 1976.
WLieutenant General Axel Bredberg was a Swedish Army officer. His senior commands include Inspector of the Swedish Army Service Troops from 1933 to 1942, Chief of the Defence Staff from 1942 to 1944 and military commander of the V Military District from 1945 to 1947.
WGeneral Count Carl August Ehrensvärd was a Swedish Army officer. He was born in Karlskrona, and was son of the admiral and Minister for Naval Affairs, Carl August Ehrensvärd. Ehrensvärd left the Swedish Army in 1918 and joined the Finnish Army and saw action during the Finnish Civil War. Ehrensvärd rejoined the Swedish Army the same year and served until 1940 when he became general Ernst Linder's Chief of Staff during the Winter War as part of the Swedish Volunteer Corps. Back again in the Swedish Army, Ehrensvärd held positions such as Chief of the Defence Staff and Chief of the Army. He retired in 1957.
WLieutenant General Carl Gunnar Eklund was a senior Swedish Coastal Artillery officer. His senior commands include Chief of the Naval Staff, Chief of the Defence Staff, military commander of the Eastern Military District and Commandant General in Stockholm.
WGeneral Curt Ture Engelbrecht Göransson was a Swedish Army officer. Göransson's senior commands include Chief of the Defence Staff 1957–1961, military commander of the I Military District 1961–1963 and Chief of the Army 1963–1969.
WGeneral Karl Hilmer Lennart Ljung was a Swedish Army officer who served as Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces from 1978 to 1986. During Ljung's eight years as Supreme Commander many events of importance for Swedish security and defense policy occurred. Sweden had five different governments under four prime ministers from different political sides. Olof Palme was murdered, the submarine incidents culminated with the Soviet submarine U 137 running aground in Karlskrona and the decision of developing a new fighter aircraft came through.
WAdmiral Bror Per Harald Stefenson was a Swedish Navy officer. Stefenson's senior commands include Chief of the Defence Staff and military commander of the Eastern Military District as well as Commandant General in Stockholm. He also served as Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff. As of 2020, Stefenson remains the last appointed Swedish admiral.
WGeneral Nils Per Robert Swedlund was a Swedish Army officer who was Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces from 1951 to 1961. He was one of the strongest advocates for a Swedish nuclear weapons program. He worked hard to convince the government that they were necessary.
WGeneral Stig Gustaf Eugén Synnergren was a Swedish Army officer who was the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces from 1970 to 1978. Synnergren was a strong advocate for the conscription system and during his time as Supreme Commander the combat aircraft Saab 37 Viggen was introduced. Synnergren was famous for advancing from the rank of captain to becoming the "youngest general in the modern times" in just five years.
WGeneral Olof Gerhard Thörnell was a Swedish Army officer. He was Sweden's first Supreme Commander from 8 December 1939 until 1944. Before 1939 that had been the role of the King.
WLieutenant General Bo Lars Axel Westin was a Swedish Coastal Artillery officer. Westin was Chief of the Naval Staff from 1968 to 1970 and Chief of the Defence Staff from 1970 to 1972.