New centre for research on specialised units

In February 2021, the Centre of Special Operations Research (CSOR) was established at the Swedish Defence University.

The new centre's activities rest on four cornerstones - research, education, academic outreach and operational support to the Armed Forces' special operations units. CSOR was established this year on February 19, when Brigadier General Anders Löfberg, Head of the Special Forces Command, and Colonel Christian Jeppsson, Head of the Department of Military Studies, signed the establishment documents.

"For many years we at the Swedish Defence University have worked with research, education and support to the Special Forces. We are now bringing these somewhat scattered activities together in CSOR", says Ulrica Pettersson, Senior Lecturer in War Studies at the Swedish Defence University and head of the new centre.

Link between the Swedish Defence University and the Swedish Armed Forces

CSOR is a virtual centre that will act as a link between the Swedish Defence University and the Swedish Armed Forces’ Special Operations Command (SWE SOCOM). It is organisationally located at the Department of Military Studies at the Swedish Defence University.

"The idea is that through the new centre we will be able to support the special forces quicker and more efficiently than before. It will also be easier to coordinate activities and develop our international networks and collaborations", says Ulrica Pettersson.

Advisory Board

The Centre's Advisory Board consists of five members and is chaired by Alastair Finlan, Professor at the Swedish Defence University. Other members include Vice Admiral Jonas Haggren, Head of the Swedish Armed Forces Special Forces; Annika Nordgren Christensen, member of the Board of the Swedish Defence University and the Royal Academy of War Sciences; James Kiras, Professor at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies in the USA; and Dr Byron Harper from NATO Special Operations Headquarters in Belgium.