Norwegian Defence University College

Norwegian Defence University College   (Military academy, Deep state milieu)
Formation	2002
Headquarters	Norway
Interests	Integrity Initiative/Cluster/Norway, Norway/Deep state
Offers 'leadership courses' for key military and civilian decision-makers

The The Norwegian Defence University College (Forsvarets høgskole) has as primary misson to educate officers. But it also offers an intensive Leadership Course, a 12-week course for for key military and civilian decision-makers. The last 60 years, most Norwegian editors-in-chief and leading journalists have attended this course. And in addition, "it is dream for network builders, and the course has been important for the participants' careers."

Overview

The Norwegian Defence University College (Forsvarets høgskole) was established on 1 January 2002. Prior to that time, the education was done at the Armed Forces' school center at Akershus Fortress (FSAF).

The college's main task is to train all officers. The higher officer education is at bachelor's and master's degree level, as well as later management courses. The master's degree in military studies is also available for civilian employees in the Armed Forces and for the Police.

Military embedded propaganda

In 2023, for "experts" from the institution, Tormod Heier, Palle Ydstebø, Geir Hågen Karlsen og Tom Røseth, were awarded the Army Medal of merit. The reason given was that they "and contribute almost daily to insight and knowledge about the war in Ukraine. Over the past year, they have shuttled between newspaper columns and tv and radio studios, and communicated, explained and analyzed the war in Ukraine to the Norwegian population." They have all been mentioned in around 1,000 media reports each. According to Heier, "this also makes it easier for his own authorities to anchor decisions around the Ukraine war in the population" and "also help create this willingness to defend that we may one day need."

Leadership Course

The College offers, among other things, a Leadership Course for civilian and military course participants on the "Armed Forces' activities and aspects of Norwegian and international defense, security and foreign policy". The majority of the participants in the courses come from the civilian sector. It is a 12-week educational offer that offers studies related to a wide range of security policy topics without a final exam [...] for key military and civilian decision-makers.

Course participants must be cleared to the secret and NATO Secret before the course starts. All courses are held during the Chatham House Rule.

The school itself defines its role as follows: "There is a need for people in key positions and key positions in our society, in relevant security policy matters, to have knowledge of the instruments that Norwegian society has at its disposal". The civilian participants are parliamentary representatives , central and regional government officials (police chiefs, sheriffs, priests, college teachers), doctors, media people, academics, organizational leaders, business leaders and municipal mayors and councilors.

The management course also offers a two-week intensive course in January. The information course is "a concise and concentrated course on Norwegian defense, security and foreign policy". The course is held in early January each year, and lasts for one week.

Strategic crisis management courses cover various forms of crisis management, including terrorism, cyber, nuclear incidents, pandemics and security policy crises. The course "will help to improve key managers' ability to handle crises and emergency preparedness challenges", and runs over two weeks each spring.

The overall unison and imprecise coverage of the Covid-19 declared pandemic in Norway might be explained by the pressure for following the government line taught in this "pandemic crisis management".

As pointed out in an article, "learning is in focus, but also the connection of ties across the various sectors the participants represent. The course will be a dream for network builders, and the participants get to experience and see places that few of us get the opportunity to."

Central media people

Selection of central media people who have participated in the leadership course. See also Norwegian Armed Forces' Russian course for a similar and overlapping network.

• Thor Gjermund Eriksen, head of broadcasting at NRK, leadership course at the Norwegian Defense College 2020
• Anders Giæver, political commentator in VG, leadership course at the Norwegian Defense College 2019
• Øystein Bogen, foreign reporter in TV2, leadership course at the Norwegian Defense College 2018
• Kristin Skogen Lund, CEO of Schibsted, leadership course at the Norwegian Defense College 2018
• Frithjof Jacobsen, former NRK and commentator in VG, producer in Monster, leadership course at the Norwegian Defense College 2016
• Thomas Boe Hornburg, commentator, journalist, editor and director of Schibsted, leadership course 2016
• Espen Utaker, debate leader Vårt Land, leadership course 2011
• Gunnar Hultgreen, journalist in Dagbladet, the leadership course 2008 and the intelligence studies 2010
• Harald Stanghelle, editor of Aftenposten
• Ulf Andenæs, Aftenposten, leadership course 2000
• Nils Johan Heatta, Sámi radio, leadership course 1999
• Einar Aaraas, Drammens Tidende, leadership course 1999
• Cato Guhnfeldt, Aftenposten, leadership course 1997
• Elisabeth Kjær, NRK, leadership course 1996
• Svein Thompson, Dagens Næringsliv, leadership course 1994-1995
• Hanne Meldgaard, Dagsavisen, leadership course 1994-1995
• Helge Lund (journalist), NRK, leadership course 1994-1995
• Kjell Dragnes, Aftenposten, leadership course 1992-1993
• Nina Bratt, Aftenposten, leadership course 1991-1992
• Per Vassbotn, Dagbladet, leadership course 1990-1991
• Guro Rustad, NRK, leadership course 1990-1991
• Ole Ludvig Nymoen, NTB, leadership course 1989-1990
• Vibecke Sund Nissen, NRK, leadership course 1987-1988
• Atle M. Skjærstad, Bergens Tidende, leadership course 1986-1987
• Svein A. Røhne, VG, leadership course 1984-1985
• Tor Axelsen, A-pressen and the Norwegian Editors' Association, leadership course 1984-1985
• Christian Borch, NRK, leadership course 1982-1983
• Pål Nordenborg, Arbeiderbladet, leadership course 1982-1983
• Arvid Jacobsen, editor of Arbeiderbladet
• Lars-Jacob Krogh, NRK, leadership course 1975-1976
• Nils Morten Udgaard, foreign editor of Aftenposten
• Anne Baggethun, NRK
• Liv Hegna, Aftenposten
• Oddvar Stenstrøm, TV2
• Frank Bjerkholt, foreign editor Morgenbladet
• Anne Katrine Førli, editor NRK.
• Hanne Skartveit editor VG
• Frøy Gudbrandsen, BT, political editor in VG

Other

• Kristin Krohn Devold, defense minister
• Kristin Skogen Lund business leader

In 2025:

• Odd Harald Hovland, MP
• Tor André Johnsen, MP
• Christine Fjeldstad, advisor to the PM
• Øystein Johannessen
• Ingrid Dåsnes ministry of defense
• Torunn Salomonsen Holmberg, assistant Attorney General
• Pål Kulø Lønseth, leader of Økokrim.
• Tove Kristin Flølo, Ministry of Transport
• Petter Nesser, lead researcher Norwegian Defence Research Establishment.
• Sesella Kathrine Hanseth
• Tom Røseth, military academic
• Abraham Foss, leader Avinor
• Jonny Lennart Brodersen, director Helse Nord RHF
• Lars Skjønnås, Narvik
• Christian Skottun director Telenor Svalbard.
• Marte Indregard, director Kongsberg Satellite Services AS
• Christian Stav
• Helle Bøe Øverbye, sub-director Innovasjon Norge.

 

Alumni on Wikispooks

Person	Born	Died	Nationality	Summary	Description
Thor Gjermund Eriksen	2 October 1966		Norway	Editor	Director General of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
Willy Haugli	2 August 1927	12 February 2009	Norway	Police officer
Ingelin Killengreen	12 November 1947		Norway	Policewoman
Kristin Skogen Lund	11 August 1966		Norway	Businessperson	Norwegian executive with deep state ties. Attended two Bilderbergs as Director-General of Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise
Hanne Skartveit	13 April 1966		Norway	Journalist Editor	Transatlantic Norwegian editor who attended the 2018 Bilderberg
Nils Udgaard	16 April 1940		Norway	Journalist Editor	Spooky Norwegian politician

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