Bjørn Bisserup | |
|---|---|
 Bisserup in 2017 | |
| Chief of Defence | |
| In office 10 January 2017 – 1 December 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Bartram |
| Succeeded by | Flemming Lentfer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1960-04-13)13 April 1960 (age 65) |
| Spouse | Maya Strandkvist Bisserup[1] |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Denmark |
| Branch/service |  Royal Danish Army |
| Years of service | 1982–2020 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Battalion Chief ofRoyal Life Guards |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog |
Bjørn Ingemann Bisserup (born 13 April 1960 in Copenhagen) is aDanish General, who served as actingChief of Defence in 2009 and 2012, before becoming Chief of Defence in 2017. He left the role in December of 2020.
He entered theRoyal Danish Military Academy in 1982 and graduated in 1994, and also attended various courses at the Command and Staff Course I in 1991, and the Command and Staff Course II in 1994-1995 at the Royal Danish Defence College.
He served as a Platoon Commander in 1995-1986, served as an Administration Officer in 1986, and served as commander of the 2IC Company in 1988-1989 in theDanish Life Regiment. He also served as an Operations and Intelligence Officer ofDANCON units at theUnited Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.
In 1990, he served as a Squadron Commander of the 2IC in the Danish Life Regiment and served as a Battalion Operations Officer at the same regiment in 1990-1991. In 1991-1994, he served as the Commanding Squadron Officer of the same regiment, until in 1995-1997, he served as a Staff Officer in the Logistics Branch if theDanish Defence Command. In 1997-2000, he served as a Staff Officer at theDanish Ministry of Defence, and in 2000-2002, he served as a Battalion Commander of theRoyal Life Guards. He became the Head of Division at the Defense Ministry in 2003-2004 until he was appointed as the Deputy Permanent Secretary of State for Defence from 2004-2008.[2]
While serving as Lieutenant General, Bisserup was on, 5 October 2009, appointed acting Chief of Defence in place of AdmiralTim Sloth Jørgensen. Sloth Jørgensen stopped as Chief of Defence due to the case of an Arabic translation ofThomas Rathsack's bookJæger - I Krig med Eliten. Bisserup remained on the post until the Defense Ministry appointed Knud Bartels to the post. The day after Tim Sloth Jørgensen's departure, Bisserup announced he did not want to assume the post permanently as he preferred to continue as the Chief of Operations and Planning Staffs atForsvarskommandoen.[3]
Bisserup was replaced as Chief of Defence 16 November 2009 by Lieutenant GeneralKnud Bartels.[4]
On 1 January 2012 Bisserup was again acting Chief of Defence, as Knud Bartels had to resign, to replace the Italian AdmiralGiampaolo Di Paola asChairman of the NATO Military Committee. Di Paola resigned to beDefense Minister in the Italian government.[5]
On 20 March 2012 was Bisserup replaced by GeneralPeter Bartram, who - after an unusual recruitment procedure (going from a Brigadier General to General in an afternoon), took the job as Chief of Defense.[6]
He was announced to replace Bartram as Chief of Defence on 10 November 2016.[7] He took over on 10 January 2017,[8] and was simultaneously made general.[9]
| Insignia | Rank | Date |
|---|---|---|
 | General | 2017 |
 | Lieutenant General | 2008 |
 | Major General | 2008 |
 | Colonel | 2004 |
 | Oberstløjtnant | 2000 |
 | Major | 1995 |
 | Kaptajn | 1988 |
 | Premierløjtnant | 1986 |
 | Løjtnant | 1984 |
Bisserup has been awarded:[1]
 | Commander of theOrder of the Dannebrog |
 | Army Long Service Medal |
 | The Home Guard’s Order of Merit |
 | Defense Medal for International Service 1948-2009 |
 | Rescue Preparedness Medal |
 | The Reserve Officers Association of Denmark Medal of Honor |
 | The Nordic Blue Berets Medal of Honour, in gold |
 | UN Medal for UNFICYP |
| Other Accoutrements | |
 | Parachutist Badge |
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | ActingChief of Defence 2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | ActingChief of Defence 2012 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of Defence 2017-2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Hans J. Høyer | ActingChief of the Defence Estates and Infrastructure Organisation 13 December 2019 - 1 December 2020 | Succeeded by Anders Branddahl |