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Hans Jesper Helsø | |
|---|---|
 Helsø at his retirement party in 2008 | |
| Born | (1948-07-09)9 July 1948 (age 77)[1] |
| Allegiance |  Denmark |
| Branch | .svg) Royal Danish Army |
| Years of service | 1968-2008 (40 years)[2] |
| Rank | General |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog |
Hans Jesper Helsø (born July 9, 1948), is a former DanishChief of Defence.[3]
Helsø served his conscription in 1968 and initially became sergeant and officer of the reserve. In 1974 he becomes lieutenant and served the following four years atKing's Artillery Regiment.[2] In 1982-83 he is - as a captain - at the General Staff Course in the United States. In 1990 he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel and come back to the artillery as Head of Department for a few years. After a short staff service at theArmy Operational Command, he became Head of theKing's Artillery Regiment between 1994 and 1996.[2] In 2000-02, he is Chief of the Army Operational Command, and then Chief of Operations and Planning Staffs until his appointment as Chief of Defence. In August 2008 Helsø reached the army's age-limit and was replaced by Tim Sloth Jørgensen.[1]
His service has been supplemented with a few international missions; first in Cyprus(UNFICYP) in 1979 and thenUNPROFOR in the Balkans in 1995.[2]
In 2002 - a few months before planned - Helsø had to step in as Chief of Defence as a result ofChristian Hvidt's early resignation. His period as Chief of Defence is marked by the Defence moving from being a mobilization defense to be a conscription based professional defense, in which overseas missions form a significant part of the effort. The planning of this change occurred in the Defence's own management and is described in the episodeK-notatet in the TV seriesMagtens Billeder.
After his time as Chief of Defense Helsø engaged in organizations related to the military, including as a member of Soldier Scholarship Award Committee and on the board of the YMCA Soldiers Mission.
Helsø is married and has four children.[1]
| Other Accoutrements | |
 | Parachutist Badge |
 | Pistol Badge Badge (Gold) |
 | Rifle Badge (Gold) |
 | Sub-machine Gun Badge (Silver) |
 | Light Machine Gun Badge (Silver) |
 | Combat Swimming Skill Badge (Silver) |
 | First Aid Skill Badge (Bronze) |
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chief of Defence 2002-2008 | Succeeded by |
