Ella Carlsson and Arjen Boin appointed honorary doctors at the Swedish Defence University 2026

Ella Carlsson, PhD and Director General of the Swedish National Space Agency, and Arjen Boin, Professor at Leiden University, have been appointed honorary doctors at the Swedish Defence University 2026.

The Swedish Defence University appoints honorary doctors to recognise individuals who have made significant contributions in the University’s fields of defence, crisis management and security. These contributions may be to research, society more broadly, or the activities of the Swedish Defence University.

Both Ella Carlsson and Arjen Boin have contributed in different ways to research and development in areas relevant to the Swedish Defence University: Ella Carlsson through her roles in academia, defence and the space sector, and Arjen Boin through his academic contributions, collaborations and knowledge exchange.

Ella Carlsson

Ella Carlsson is a Swedish Colonel and holds a PhD in physics. In 2021, she was appointed Sweden’s first military Head of Space and, in this capacity, was responsible for the newly established Space Division within the Swedish Armed Forces. Since 2024, she has served as Director General of the Swedish National Space Agency.

Citation:

Through senior positions in defence and public administration, most recently as Head of Space in the Swedish Armed Forces and now as Director General of the Swedish National Space Agency, Ella Carlsson has made significant contributions to Sweden’s space capabilities. Through her commitment and ability to communicate, she has also inspired children, young people and adults to take an interest in space, science and technology.

Ella Carlsson holds a PhD in physics and, through her roles in academia, defence and the space sector, has contributed to research and development in areas relevant to the Swedish Defence University.

“Being appointed an honorary doctor is an immense honour. I also see it as recognition of the importance of collaboration between research, education, defence, security and the space sector. The Swedish Defence University plays an important role in developing knowledge in areas that are crucial to Sweden’s future security and resilience. As I have studied at the Swedish Defence University myself, receiving this distinction is particularly meaningful and therefore especially gratifying”, says Ella Carlsson.

Arjen Boin

Arjen Boin is Professor at the Institute of Political Science at Leiden University. He was previously Professor at the Utrecht School of Governance and Associate Professor at the Public Administration Institute at Louisiana State University.

Citation:

Arjen Boin is appointed honorary doctor at the Swedish Defence University in recognition of his outstanding academic contributions to crisis management, societal security and public governance. Through his internationally leading research, he has made a substantial contribution to our understanding of how societies prevent, manage and learn from crises. His work has had a significant impact both on research and on the development of policy and leadership in the field of crisis preparedness.

Through longstanding collaboration and knowledge exchange, Boin has also contributed to the development of research and education at the Swedish Defence University. His combination of theoretical rigour and practical relevance has strengthened the University’s academic profile and its standing in a key area of its activities.

“I am both surprised and humbled by this unexpected honor. It means a lot, as I have been working with the Swedish Defence University for well over 25 years. It's a wonderful place with great people. It's an honor to be associated with them”, says Arjen Boin.