As of 1 January 2012 General Bartels was appointed Chairman of NATO Military Committee.
From 2009 to 2011 General Knud Bartels served as Chief of Defence Denmark, the highest ranking officer in the Danish Armed Forces and the principal military adviser to the Danish government.
Prior to assuming command as Chief of Defence, General Bartels served as Denmark’s Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee and the EU Military Committee from 2006 to 2009.
General Bartels enrolled as a soldier in 1972, and to a large extent soldiering has remained at the core of his career. His rise through the ranks from junior to general officer is dominated by operational duty at home and in missions, ranging from company to division commander, interrupted only by courses at Ecole Supérieure de Guerre in Paris and US Army War College in Carlisle. Furthermore, he has held postings as instructor at both the Army Combat School and the Royal Danish Defence College, including an appointment as Director Army Command and General Staff Course.
In addition, General Bartels has held his share of positions in both national and international joint staffs, including Assistant Chief of Staff Plans, Defence Command Denmark, and Director for Operations, NATO’s International Military Staff in Brussels.
General Bartels is married to Inge and in their marriage they have brought together four adult children; two sons and two daughters – and they have their home in Brussels. The General has an interest in history, in particular military history, and he also enjoys art and music as well as old sports cars.
Date of birth: 8th April 1952 in Copenhagen, Denmark
Family: Married to Mrs. Inge Vansteenkiste (Goes by Mrs. Inge Bartels)
Military career:
| 1977 | First Lieutenant |
| 1982 | Captain |
| 1987 | Major |
| 1992 | Lieutenant Colonel |
| 1996 | Colonel |
| 2001 | Brigadier |
| 2001 | Major General |
| 2006 | Lieutenant General |
| 2009 | General |
Assignments:
| 1972 - 1973 | Basic and NCO training |
| 1973 - 1977 | Royal Danish Army Academy |
| 1977 - 1980 | Regimental duty |
| 1980 - 1981 | United Nations Forces Cyprus |
| 1981 - 1982 | Junior Army and Joint Staff Course |
| 1982 - 1984 | Instructor in tactics, Army Combat School |
| 1984 - 1986 | Student Ecole Supérieure de Guerre, Paris |
| 1986 - 1987 | Instructor in tactics/operations, Royal Danish Defence College |
| 1987 - 1988 | Company Commander, II Armoured Battalion Zealand Life Regiment |
| 1988 - 1990 | Instructor in tactics/operations, Royal Danish Defence College |
| 1990 - 1992 | Staff Officer Danish Defence Command |
| 1992 - 1993 | Commanding Officer I Battalion Slesvig Foot Regiment |
| 1993 - 1994 | Student US Army War College, Carlisle |
| 1994 - 1996 | Director Army Command and General Staff Course, Royal Danish Defence College |
| 1996 - 1997 | Commander 3 Jutland Brigade |
| 1997 - 1999 | ACOS Plans Danish Defence Command |
| 1999 | Senior National Representative KFOR and MNB(N) |
| 2000 - 2001 | MA Director International Military Staff |
| 2001 | Deputy Military Representative to NATO Military Committee |
| 2001 - 2004 | Director for Operations, International Military Staff |
| 2004 - 2006 | General Officer Commanding Danish Division |
| 2006 - 2009 | Danish Military Representative to NATO Military Committee and EU Military Committee |
| 2009 - 2011 | Chief of Defence Denmark |
| 2012 - | Chairman of the NATO Military Committee |
Decorations:
- Grand Cross of the Order of Dannebrog
- 25 Years Good Service Medal
- The Home Guard Good Service Medal
- Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
- Commander of the French Order of the Legion of Honour
- Knight 1st Class of the French National Order of Merit
- UN Medal, Cyprus
