Organisation of the Danish Armed Forces

The Defence Command

The Commander of the Defence Command bears the title Chief of Defence, while the Deputy Chief of Defence is Chief of the Defence Staff.

• High Command of the Danish Armed Forces

The Command leves within the Defence Command includes:

• The Army
• The Royal Danish Navy 
• The Royal Danish Airforce
• The Joint Arctic Command
• The Special Operations Command 
• The Operational Support Command

In addition these services are under the aegis of the Chief of Defence as part of the Armed Forces:

• The Royal Danish Defence College
• The Personnel Command
• The Estate Command 
• The Danish Defence Medical Command (is integrated into the Operational Support Command)
• The Armed Forces Maintenance Service (is integrated into the Operational Support Command)

The Defence Staff

The Defence Staff consists of:

• The Executive Office
• The Plans and Capability Staff
• The Joint Operations Staff
• The Interforce Executive Office
• Finance and Managenet

Headed by the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Kenneth Pedersen, the Defence Staff is responsible for coordination and development within the Danish Armed Forces as well as leadership, administration, and staff support.


The Joint Operations Staff is responsible for planning, deployment, and logistics in all operations.


HR / recruitment, materiel procurement and administration of properties do not fall directly under the Defence Command, but under the Ministry of Defence's Personnel Agency, the Ministry of Defence's Materiel and Procurement Agency and the Ministry of Defence's Property Agency, respectively, which supports the Defence Command with these areas.

MOD Ministry of Defence