General Håkan Erik Gunnar Syrén (born 31 January 1952) is a retired Swedish Navy officer. Syrén graduated from the Royal Swedish Naval Academy in 1973 and began his career as an instructor and platoon commander at the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment. After advanced studies in Sweden and at the U.S. Naval War College, he held key posts including teacher of strategy, head of planning at the Naval Staff, and commanding officer of both the Marine Amphibious Battalion and the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment. He later served as head of operations planning at Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters and in 1999 was promoted to major general, becoming Director of Military Intelligence and Security.
In 2004, Syrén was appointed Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, a position he held until 2009. He then became Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (2009–2012), the EU's highest military post. Following his service, he founded his own consultancy, In General AB, and has remained active in strategic and defense-related advisory roles. His career established him not only as a leading figure in Swedish defense but also as a respected military leader on the international stage.
Early life
Syrén was born in Växjö, Sweden, the son of Lieutenant Colonel Gunnar Syrén and his wife Siv Syrén. He grew up in Uppsala, where he graduated from in 1970. He was then instructor and platoon commander at the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment (KA 1) from 1973 to 1979 and studied at the Military Academy Karlberg in Stockholm from 1980 to 1984. Syrén was a staff officer at the Naval Staff in Stockholm from 1984 to 1988 and was a student at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, USA from 1988 to 1989. Back in Sweden, he was teacher of strategy at the Military Academy Karlberg from 1989 to 1990 and head of the Planning Department at the Naval Staff from 1990 to 1992. Syrén was then commanding officer of the Marine Amphibious Battalion from 1992 to 1994 and commanding officer of the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment from 1994 to 1996.
Syrén was head of Operations Planning Department at the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters from 1996 to 1998. He served in this position until 2003. His appointment lasted until November 2012 and after this, he started his consulting firm In General AB the same year.
Other work
Syrén was ADC to His Majesty the King from 1988 to 1996. In December 2012 he became a senior advisor to the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and the following year he became a board member of the SSC.
Personal life
Syrén is married to Birgitta and together they have three children.
- 50x50px H. M. The King's Medal, 8th size gold (silver-gilt) medal worn on the chest suspended by the Order of the Seraphim ribbon (1994)
- 50x50px Coastal Ranger Association Medal of Merit (Förbundet Kustjägarnas förtjänstmedalj) in silver (2006)
Foreign
- 50x50px Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland (2009)
- 50x50px Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (15 April 2009)
- 50x50px Commander of the Legion of Honour (27 June 2006)
- 50px Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria (2003)