Tom Robert Linden, born in Helsinki, Finland in 1966, has had a distinguished career in defense and military service. He is currently responsible for the Common Armoured Vehicle System project, F-35 Industrial Participation, Defence Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I), and other material capability-related tasks. Prior to his current role, from February 2016 to March 2022, he led Strategic Programs Industrial Participation negotiations and evaluations, and was instrumental in designing and implementing External Quality Assurance for the competition phase. From 2011 to 2015, he served as Deputy Head of the Defence Forces Technical Inspection Division, and from 2007 to 2010, he was Head of the Program Management Section in the Defence Staff Materiel Division. Between 2001 and 2006, he represented Finland as the Senior National Representative in the Nordic Standard Helicopter Program.
His earlier career included various Army positions in field units from company to brigade level between 1986 and 2000. Linden graduated from the Finnish National Defence University in 1990 and completed the General Staff Officers Course in Stockholm, Sweden in 2001. He has also studied at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and the Université Paul Valéry in Montpellier, France. Linden retired from active military service in March 2022. His decorations include the Cross of Liberty, 2nd Class, Order of the Cross of Liberty; Knight, 1st Class, Order of the White Rose of Finland; Knight, 1st Class, Order of the Lion of Finland; and the Medal of Military Merit. He is married to Seiko Maeda-Linden, and together they have three children and four hunting dogs.
