åkerman was head of the royal swedish army staff college from 1942 to 1946 and commander of the östgöta anti-aircraft regiment (lv 2) from 1946 to 1948. he was promoted to colonel in the swedish air force and was appointed inspector of the control and reporting system of the swedish air force ("inspektören för luftbevakningen") in 1948. åkerman was promoted to major general and was appointed chief of the defence staff in 1951. he was also serving as head of the swedish national defence college from 1951 to 1952. åkerman left the defence staff in 1957 and was then military commander of the iii military area from 1957 to 1963 when he was promoted to lieutenant general.