The Swedish government has appointed departmental head Lisa Gustafsson as deputy director general at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI, Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut). She will take up the position on 15 October 2026.
"Lisa Gustafsson's experience from the Government Offices and the Swedish Armed Forces will strengthen the leadership of FOI in the agency's continued development," says Defence Minister Pål Jonson in a press release.
Gustafsson currently heads the Ministry of Defence's division for defence intelligence, security and cyber affairs. According to FOI's own announcement, she has held the position since 2024 and previously held several leadership roles within the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service (Must). In 2024, she was awarded an honorary medal at a ceremony at the French embassy, as NDS reported.
"The agency is in an intensive phase of development, in which we are generating new knowledge to strengthen Swedish defence capability," says FOI's Director General Jens Mattsson.
FOI conducts research, method and technology development, and analysis work for military and civil defence. According to the government, the agency has around 1,800 employees in Kista (Stockholm), Grindsjön, Linköping (southern Sweden) and Umeå (northern Sweden).