Major General Gunnar Åke Karlson (born 7 April 1958) is a retired Swedish Army officer.

Karlson completed the general course of the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College from 1986 to 1987 and was an infantry company commander at Dalarna Regiment (I 13) from 1987 to 1988 when he was promoted to major.

Karlson was teacher of the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College's two year management course from 1994 to 1995 and was deputy head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Assistance Group to Chechnya from 1995 to 1996.

Karlson was deputy military representative at the Mission of Sweden to NATO from 2000 to 2003 and commanding officer of the Gotland Regiment (P 18) from 2003 to 2005.

Karlson then served as Assistant Chief of Armed Forces Training & Procurement from 2009 until 4 June 2012 when he took over as head of restructuring until 1 October the same year when he was appointed Director of Military Intelligence and Security.