Michael Hyldgaard, who recently assumed the role of acting Chief of Defence in Denmark, expressed in a recent interview with Ritzau that he does not speculate on whether he will remain in the position permanently. With over 40 years of experience in the Defence, Hyldgaard was appointed to the position on April 4th, after his predecessor, Flemming Lentfer, was sent home. Hyldgaard describes his approach to the role as pragmatic and task-oriented. “I do this for as long as I am asked,” he said in the interview, adding that he does not fear future challenges or uncertainties. “In reality, I just solve the task,” he explained. The new Chief of Defence has a background as a special forces soldier and has been deployed to Afghanistan twice. He has also held several leadership positions within the Defence, most recently as the head of the Special Operations Command. He describes the situation surrounding his appointment as sudden and unexpected, but he has taken on the challenge as part of his duty. “I was not prepared for this situation, so it has been very hectic,” Hyldgaard said.
The former Chief of Defence, Flemming Lentfer, is still formally employed in the position, and his future is uncertain as he has threatened to sue the Ministry of Defence through his lawyer for what he believes is an unjust suspension. Hyldgaard emphasizes the importance of focusing on the task rather than the position. “The world can tumble around, but if you focus on the task, then you have your compass,” he said. He sees this focus as the key to navigating the challenges that may arise during his leadership.