Surgeon general (Denmark)

The Surgeon General is the highest-ranking medical officer of the Danish Defence. Until 2023, the role of administrative leadership of the Armed Forces Medical Command was also Surgeon General.

History

Until the beginning of the 19th century, the chief surgeon of the army was a temporary position established only in times of conflict. However, there was an increased wish to have a permanent position to plan, supervise and be available to the higher command authorities. As such the Stabskirurg was established on 21 April 1806, with the rank of major.
In 1838, the title was changed to the Stabslæge, which was elevated to colonel in 1848. The position was however demoted back to major by 1852. The rank was re-elevated to colonel on 3 January 1861.
Following the Army law of 1867, the army and navy staff doctors were collected into a unified corps. The unified corps was spilt again in 1880, as it was decided that the naval medical corps be disbanded.
On 13 April 1894, the rank was elevated to major general.
On 1 November 1951, the Army Medical Corps and the Naval Medical Corps were collected into the joint Defence Medical Corps, which also included the newly formed air force. Following the adoption of the brigade general rank in 1983, the position was made a brigade general.
By 1991, the name was changed to Defence Health Service. This merged with the in 2002.
In 2018, the name was changed to Medical Command.
With increased responsibility of the Forsvarets Sanitetskommando, the leadership role was split in two, in April 2023. One administrator and one healthcare advisor.