Chief of the Navy (Norway)

The Chief of the Navy (Sjef Sjøforsvaret) is the Commander–in–chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy.

The Chief of the Navy is head over the Naval Staff, the Coast Guard, The Fleet and the main naval bases. Presiding over close to 3600 soldiers, the Chief of the Navy has great responsibility to lead and defend. With the seas under his discretion, the Chief of the Navy watches over the seas which are seven times greater in area than that of Norway's mainland.

The Naval Staff is based at Haakonsvern Naval Base in Bergen, western Norway.

Name of the position

 * 1970 - 2017: General inspector of the Navy
 * 2017 - today: Chief of the Navy

General Inspector for the Navy

 * 1970–1974: Hans Skjong
 * 1974–1976: Oddmund Peder Åkenes
 * 1976–1980: Charles Oluf Herlofson
 * 1980–1983: Roy Breivik
 * 1983–1989: Bjarne Grimstvedt
 * 1989–1992: Rolf Eilhardt Pedersen
 * 1992–1995: Kjell Amund Prytz
 * 1995–2000: Hans Kristian Svensholt
 * 2000–2003: Kjell-Birger Olsen
 * 2003–2008: Jan Eirik Finseth
 * 2008–2011: Haakon Bruun-Hanssen
 * 2011–2014: Bernt Grimstvedt
 * 2014–2017: Lars Saunes