Start as a specialist, end as a generalist

A full overview of Stig Rydell’s extensive career within the Armed Forces would require a paper of its own. His experience spans a wide range of roles, including air surveillance, various forms of intelligence, and serving as Head of Development for information systems. Stig has also been a senior lecturer in Military Strategy and Security Policy in Norway and lecturer in Finland, and Head of the Air Operations Division at the Swedish Defence University. He has also worked within NATO, to name just a few of his many roles. As Stig puts it – you start as a specialist, and end as a generalist in this field of work.

His journey began early, through involvement in the Air Force’s youth activities. That, combined with a strong interest in aviation and technology, led the way for what became a long, broad, and still ongoing career – always driven by the desire to both learn and teach.

From experience to impact

With the extensive knowledge Stig possesses, he and co-editor Mats identified a gap in the book market regarding drones – and also a strong interest in the subject. Drawing on their combined expertise and with the generous contributions of several volunteer authors, the book came to life. ”Drönare/UAS – teknik och förmågor” (Drones/UAS – Technology and Capabilities) is widely appreciated by its readers:

We recognized an interest in this area of expertise. This is also a reason why everyone involved in this project was willing to contribute voluntarily. I’m incredibly grateful for the total of 25 authors who have contributed – this is definitely not a solo effort! When everything finally came together, we could conclude that the book turned out really well and fitting for a time as this.

With the book filling a highly relevant knowledge gap, it was not only sold out quickly, but was also recognized by Kungliga Krigsvetenskapsakademien (the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences). Stig Rydell and Mats Olofsson received a medal of recognition for their distinguished editorial work:

We are incredibly honored by this recognition, as it means that the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences believes we have made a valuable contribution. This recognition is proof that dedication always pays off. When you're passionate about something, it’s truly gratifying when that passion is recognized.

Still more to give

What drives Stig to work beyond retirement? His desire for continued growth. He genuinely enjoys contributing and using his wealth of past experiences as tools to shape the future – whether it is in the form of writing a book or working part-time. Stig sees this mindset as essential, and it’s why he chose to embrace the role as project manager at Combitech.

Something he points out as a perk of the Combitech community is the people, and how different backgrounds, ages and personalities bring new perspectives:

”It’s truly exciting to work at Combitech, because the company has always been intentional about mixing youth and experience, officers and civilians, men and women… Together, that creates a formidable base of knowledge.”

Meaningful connections

Outside of Combitech, Stig enjoys working with his hands. Since his professional duties mostly involve desk work, it’s a nice change of pace. Renovating and building things for his young grandkids ranks high on the list. He also finds great joy in meeting new people:

I enjoy meeting new people, learning new things, and hearing others’ stories. That’s also one of the reasons why Combitech is such a great workplace. Here, you get to meet many different people in many different settings.

To be a Shaper of a Smart and Resilient Society, what does that mean to Stig? To be forward-focused and harness your experiences for a better future. We all have experiences to learn from, and Stig believes this is the key to move forward and evolve. This mindset is something he shares with his colleagues at Combitech:                         

It’s a fantastic privilege to work with such engaged people. It’s fun, rewarding and a pleasure to lead a team when everyone truly wants to achieve something. And that’s certainly the case at Combitech.