He was born in Sortland and finished the science branch of Sortland Upper Secondary School in 1978. He was graduated from the Army Engineering College in 1981 and held a diploma in civil engineering. He was an officer in the Norwegian Army (Brigaden i Nord-Norge/Brigade of North-Norway in the engineering company) until 1984.
He was first elected to Bærummunicipal council in 1995, and chaired his local party chapter from 2000 to 2004. He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from the Conservative Party (Høyre) Akershus during the term 2005–2009 and during the term 2009–2013. From 1 to 17 October 2005, he met in Parliament for Jan Petersen as the Parliament convened before the second cabinet Bondevik withdrew.[1]