Military career Nilsson began his military career as an air force officer candidate in 1964 at the
Swedish Air Force Flying School in
Ljungbyhed. Nilsson was commissioned as an officer in the
Swedish Air Force in 1967 as second lieutenant. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1969 and to captain in 1972. Nilsson served as squadron commander at
Bråvalla Wing in
Norrköping from 1973 to 1976. During his career, Nilsson flew, among others,
J 28 Vampire,
Saab 29 Tunnan,
Saab 32 Lansen,
Saab 35 Draken and
Saab 37 Viggen. and served as Deputy Sector Wing Commander and Wing Commander of Uppland Wing (F 16/Se M) in
Uppsala. and he then served from 1992 to 1994 as head of the Production Command (
Produktionsledningen) in the Air Staff. From 1993 to 1994 he was
Acting Chief of the Air Staff. From 1994 to 1995, Nilsson was head of the Production Department in the
Air Force Command and from 1995 to 1996, he was head of the
Northern Air Command. In 1996, Nilsson was promoted to major general and was appointed Chief of Staff of the
Northern Military District. Two years later, on 1 July 1998, Nilsson was promoted to lieutenant general and was appointed Chief of the Joint Operations Command (
Operationsledningen, OPL). He retired from active service in 2000. Later in his career, he represented
AIK and
Rögle, among others. In the latter club he was also chairman from 2005 to 2009. ==Personal life==