Commander Senior Grade (Ret.) John Gunnar Refsnes was born in Oslo October 13th, 1962. Growing up close to Naval Base Marvika in Kristiansand, he was so inspired and influenced, that even as a toddler he was telling everybody that a life at sea should be his calling.  Attending as a naval student at The Royal Norwegian Navy’s Sjømiltære Korps, July 2nd, 1979, at the age of 16(!) and with a “one-way ticket” and his father’s ship’s bag over the shoulder, he started his long military career.

As a Marine Engineer he served on several vessels before starting his long relationship with the Norwegian Naval Damage Control School at Naval Base Haakonsvern. The service at the Naval Training Establishment occupied more than 25 years, only divided by a three-year sea service, two periods at the Staff College and INTOPS. His last service was as Commanding Officer at the Naval Engineering and Safety Centre, a position he held for twelve years.

John Gunnar represented Norway in NATO Specialist Team on Ship Combat Survivability from early 2000 until his retirement in 2021. 

Due to his sincere interests in naval damage control, founded in multiple self-experienced and others naval incidents at sea, he has been (and still is) engaged to provide specialized training on expeditionary cruise vessels/-liners and in developing FF/DC training including educational facilities around the world.

John Gunnar has also served as Military Commander on a STUFT (Ship taken Up From Trade) during his continuous 5 months on board MV Taiko during Operation RECSYR. For this service he was awarded with the Medal for Defence Service Abroad.

When John Gunnar retired from active service 1 July 2021, one the day he had served exactly 42 years, he was instantly employed by Miko Marine as Damage Control and Technical Executive and Sales Executive Naval and Governmental Segments. In his present job he is frequently in professional contact with former naval colleagues and his global NDC network.  He considers it as a privilege to be able to continue the trade within Naval Damage Control and is looking forward to interesting discussions and highly relevant speeches at NDC24