Sergeant Major Kristian Simonsen started his military career at the NCO
school in 1991 and was promoted to sergeant July 1992. He has served in various
positions, including squad leader, platoon sergeant, platoon leader, company
commander, Task Force commander, instructor and command sergeant major. An
infantryman by trade, his active service includes light infantry and heavy
mechanized units and service as a commander of both infantry fighting vehicles
and tanks.
He has led combat units in challenging operations several times in
Afghanistan 2003-2004, 2005-2006, and 2010 and served in UN and NATO operations
in Lebanon (UNIFIL) 93-94, Bosnia (IFOR&SFOR) 96-97, Kosovo (KFOR) 99-00.
In 2014-2015 Simonsen was a part of a small international team to establish a
NATO Joint Training and Evaluation Centre in Tbilisi, Georgia, as part of the substantial
NATO-Georgia Package.
In 2015, he was selected as the first Sergeant Major at the Norwegian
Land Warfare Center (TRADOC), where he developed and implemented a new NCO
reform program for six years.
Kristian Simonsen served as the second Sergeant Major of the Norwegian
Army. He has overseen and implemented initiatives, decisions, and activities on
all levels to support the Commander's intent.
He graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy in 2002 and holds a
Master of Military Studies from the Norwegian Command and Staff College in
2014.
He has received twelve different awards for his service:
1.
The
Norwegian Defense Service Medal with Laurel Branch
2.
The
Norwegian Defense Service Medal
3.
The
Armed Forces Medal for International Operations
4.
The
Medal for Defense Operations Abroad – Afghanistan x3
5.
The
National Service Medal – Army, 3 stars
6.
The
Medal for Defense Operations Abroad – Lebanon x2
7.
The NATO Medal
for Kosovo
8.
The NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia x2
9.
The NATO Medal
x3
10.
The
General Giorgi Kvinitadze Medal, Georgia
11.
The
Norwegian Defense Military Shooting Medal w/two stars
12.
The
Norwegian Defense Military Sports Medal w/one star
Kristian is married to his lovely wife Helene and currently resides in Virginia
Beach. In Norway they resides in the southern part of Norway with four
children, two daughters and two boys. The two oldest children have started
their own careers with studies in biotechnology and law. His interests are
Harley Davidsons and spending time with his family.