Introduction
Major General Lars-Bertil Persson (born 19 November 1934) is a retired Swedish Air Force officer. He served as wing commander of the Norrbotten Air Force Wing (F 21), acting Chief of the Defence Staff, and director general of the National Aeronautical Research Institute.
Career
Persson was born on 19 November 1934 in Lund City Parish, Malmöhus County, Sweden, the son of Ernfrid Persson and his wife Lilly (née Fransson). Persson was commissioned as an officer in the Swedish Air Force in 1956 and attended the Empire Test Pilots' School in England in 1959. He then served as a test pilot at the Swedish Center for Experimental Research (Försökscentralen, FC) at Malmen Airbase in Malmslätt from 1960 to 1968 and as a staff officer in the Defence Staff from 1968 to 1972. Persson was head of the Planning Department in the Defence Staff from 1973 to 1977 when he was promoted to colonel and appointed section chief in the Defence Staff. In 1980, Persson was promoted to colonel 1st class and was appointed wing commander of the Norrbotten Air Force Wing (F 21). On 1 October 1982, he was promoted to major general and was appointed head of the Planning Staff in the Defence Staff. Persson also served as acting Chief of the Defence Staff from 1982.
Persson was then director general and head of the National Aeronautical Research Institute from 1986 to 1996, and chairman of the Group for Aeronautical Research and Technology in Europe (GARTEUR) from 1996. He was also chairman of the Swedish Cruising Association (Svenska kryssarklubben) from 1983.
Personal life
In 1960, he married Eiwor Haglund (born 1936), the daughter of Eric Haglund and Astrid (née Carlsson).
Dates of rank
- 1956 – Fänrik
- 1958 – Lieutenant
- 1964 – Captain
- 1969 – Major
- 1972 – Lieutenant Colonel
- 1977 – Colonel
- 1980 – Colonel 1st Class
- 1982 – Major General
Honours
- Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1980)