Porträtt av mottagarna av förtjänstmedaljer 2026.

From left: Romulo Enmark, Bengt Sundelius, Maud Holma von Heijne and Tommy Jeppsson.

Recipients of the Swedish Defence University Medals of Merit 2026

Romulo Enmark, Bengt Sundelius, Maud Holma von Heijne and Tommy Jeppsson have been awarded the Swedish Defence University Medals of Merit for 2026. The recipients will be honoured at the University’s Academic Ceremony on 26 November.

The Swedish Defence University has established Medals of Merit in gold and silver to recognise individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the University. The first medals were awarded in 2024.

The 2026 Medal of Merit in Gold is awarded to Romulo Enmark and Bengt Sundelius for outstanding and lasting contributions to the University’s academic and scientific development. The Medal of Merit in Silver is awarded to Maud Holma von Heijne and Tommy Jeppsson for their longstanding and significant contributions in areas including the dissemination of knowledge and public debate on defence issues.

Medal of Merit in Gold

Romulo Enmark

Citation:

Romulo Enmark is awarded the Swedish Defence University Medal of Merit in Gold for his outstanding and lasting contribution to the University’s academic development. Through systematic, strategic and long-term efforts as Vice-Chancellor of the Swedish Defence University from 2011 to 2019, he played a decisive role in enabling the University to progressively obtain degree-awarding powers at all levels of higher education. With considerable expertise, integrity and perseverance, he led the complex processes that laid the foundations for the Swedish Defence University’s status as a fully-fledged academic institution. His contribution has been of fundamental and lasting importance to the University’s development.

Bengt Sundelius

Citation:

Bengt Sundelius is awarded the Swedish Defence University Medal of Merit in Gold for his outstanding and lasting contribution to the University’s scientific development. As the founder of the Crismart research centre, he played a decisive role in establishing crisis management and crisis research as a major field of research at the Swedish Defence University. Through his research, academic leadership and extensive national and international networks, he has contributed over several decades to maintaining high scientific standards and strengthening the University’s academic standing. His contributions have had an impact far beyond the University and have helped advance knowledge and capabilities in crisis management and societal security in Sweden.

Medal of Merit in Silver

Maud Holma von Heijne

Citation:

Maud Holma von Heijne is awarded the Swedish Defence University Medal of Merit in Silver for her significant and longstanding contributions to knowledge, dialogue and public engagement in the field of defence and security. During almost ten years as Secretary General of the organisation Folk och Försvar, she has developed and strengthened a key forum bringing together politics, public authorities, the Swedish Armed Forces, academia and civil society. Through broad and inclusive efforts to promote knowledge and understanding, she has contributed to greater public awareness of defence, security, emergency preparedness and total defence at a time when these issues have taken on renewed importance for society as a whole.

Tommy Jeppsson

Citation:

Tommy Jeppsson is awarded the Swedish Defence University Medal of Merit in Silver for his longstanding and significant contributions to military education, the dissemination of knowledge and public debate on defence issues. As a lecturer at defence universities in Sweden, Norway and Finland, and since 2007 as editor of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences’ publication Handlingar och Tidskrift, he has contributed over several decades to developing and disseminating specialist knowledge of defence and security. Particularly valuable has been his role in building bridges between the Swedish Defence University and the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences, as well as his commitment to bringing the knowledge produced by students and officers to a wider professional and academic audience.