åkerman was born in stockholm, sweden, the son of the lieutenant general and politician joakim (jockum) åkerman and martina björnstjerna. after graduating in stockholm in 1916, he became second lieutenant at the svea artillery regiment (a 1) in 1919 and lieutenant in 1923. åkerman became captain of the general staff in 1931 and was general staff officer of the western army division from 1931 to 1933. åkerman was then head of the air defense detail of the general staff from 1934 to 1937 and artillery battery commander of svea artillery regiment from 1937 to 1939. åkerman was major in the general staff corps in 1939 and teacher at the royal swedish air force staff college the same year.