he finished his secondary education at "stavanger handelsgymnasium" in 1956, and graduated from the norwegian military academy and became a lieutenant in 1960. after post-education in norway, kansas and pennsylvania, he reached the rank of lieutenant general in 1987, and was the commander allied forces south norway (comsonor) until 1991. he also represented norway in the nato military committee. he was the president of the interest group "norges forsvarsforening" from 1995 to 2001.