Colonel Claes Nilsson

Colonel Claes Nilsson was appointed as Head of the OSCE High-Level Planning Group on 1 January 2021 by the Swedish OSCE Chairpersonship.

Colonel Nilsson spent several years as a civilian before re-joining the Army and entering the Military Academy at Karlberg in 1980. He graduated to be commissioned as 1st Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps in 1981. In 1995-1997 he completed the Austrian National Defence College General Staff Course. His also attended the National Defence College Basic and General Staff Course, UN Military Observer Course and completed his university studies in pedagogy and sociology during his time at the Military Academy.

Prior to becoming Head of the High-Level Planning Group, Col. Nilsson assumed various duties such as: being involved in preparations for and conduct of the Armed Forces main exercises AURORA 2017 and AURORA 2020 as Head of Opponent Forces and Chief Current, Defence Attaché to the United Kingdom and Ireland, and as Swedish LNO to USEUCOM in Stuttgart, Germany. He has served as UN Military Observer in UNTSO, Middle East.

From 2001 to 2004, Colonel Nilsson served as Deputy Head and Head of Department for Defence Planning at the Swedish Armed Forces HQ. In 2004 he took up the position as Military Advisor at the Permanent Delegation of Sweden to the OSCE.

From August 2008 until December 2011, Colonel Nilsson was Head of Intelligence Division at the Military Intelligence and Security Directorate in the Swedish Armed Forces. He served as Defence Attaché to Poland from 2012 to 2015. Col Nilsson retired from active duty in December 2015.