CAPT (N) Egil Vasstrand
Professional affiliation
Full Biography
Captain Vasstrand started his military career in 1985, as a conscript at Odderøya Fortress. He is a graduate of the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, and was commissioned in 1989. He is also a graduate of the National Joint Command and Staff College in Oslo, Norway (2005) and of the US Naval War College, Newport, RI (2015).
Vasstrand’s initial operational tour was in the Coast Artillery. He later served as Close Combat Officer and Air Defense Officer in the fortresses Grøtsund and Nes. On completion of the PWO Course, he served at the Norwegian Naval Training Establishment, working with the capability development of the Coastal Rangers before serving as the XO of Nes Fortress (1999-2001).
Vasstrand was Staff Officer Naval Operations at both Defense Command North Norway and Regional HQ North Norway (2001-04).
After graduation from the Joint Command and Staff College in 2005, he was assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Group as XO of the Coastal Rangers Command in Harstad.
Vasstrand then took command of the Coastal Rangers (2006-09). During this time, the unit was heavily engaged in operations in Afghanistan.
After finishing his command tour in Harstad he filled the position in the Norwegian Naval Staff Plans & Policy Department as Project Coordinator for the Naval Special Warfare Group (2009- 10).
Vasstrand served in NATO as Section Head Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at Allied Command Transformation Norfolk Virginia for four years (2010-14).
After returning from the United States, he took the position of Section Head Operations in the Norwegian Naval Staff (2015-17). During this assignment, he deployed to the HQ of the Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain, where he was Deputy Director Engagement J5 for 8 months.
Returning from the Bahrain deployment, Vasstrand was promoted to Captain and became the CO of the Norwegian Maritime Warfare Centre (2017).
In July 2020, Vasstrand started working as Assistant Defense Attaché to USA and Canada.
His personal awards include the Defense Medal with two stars for 35 years of service, Service Medal with three stars for more than 15 years of service in the Navy and the Norwegian Armed Forces International Operations Medal for the Combined Maritime Forces deployment.
Capt (N) Vasstrand is a native of Bergen, Norway.
