Chief of Defence Forces (Thailand)
Chief of Defence Forces | |
---|---|
ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด | |
![]() Flag of the Chief of Defence Forces | |
since 1 October 2023 | |
Ministry of Defence | |
Member of | RTARF HQ |
Reports to | Minister of Defence |
Seat | Lak Si, Bangkok |
Nominator | Minister of Defence |
Appointer | King of Thailand |
Formation | 13 November 1940 |
First holder | Field Marshal Phibunsongkhram |
Website | Official website |
The Chief of Defence Forces, previously known as the Supreme Commander, (Thai: ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด) is the overall field commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. He is also in charge of managing the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters (abbreviated as the RTARF HQ). Not to be confused with the ceremonial Head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces who is the constitutional Head of State and Monarch of Thailand.
Prior to 1960 the post was an ad hoc creation by Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, during World War II. However, under Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat the position became permanent, and in its early life was even combined with the post of Prime Minister of Thailand. In February 2008 the English name of the post was changed from Supreme Commander to Chief of Defence Forces with the reorganization of the Supreme Command Headquarters into the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters (though the Thai term remained the same).
The enactment of 1997 Constitution of Thailand on 11 October 1997 prohibits double-hatting of this position and each service branch commander-in-chief, the general officer appointed to the Chief of Defence Forces after the date acts more like a coordinator between three military branches. Still, he commands smaller military force than the Army, the Navy, or the Air Force has. So, the position is usually reserved for senior army generals who will not be appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army and will retire on the same year with the latter. It is customary to appoint the chief of defence to four-star rank in all three branches in the Armed Forces for inspection of other branches of the Armed Forces.
List of chiefs
[edit]Supreme Commanders (1941−2008)
[edit]No. | Portrait | Supreme Commander | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temporary command during the Franco-Thai War | ||||||
1 | Plaek Phibunsongkhram (1897–1964) | Major General13 November 1940 | 30 April 1941 | 168 days | ![]() | |
Temporary command during the Pacific War | ||||||
(1) | Plaek Phibunsongkhram (1897–1964) | Field Marshal12 November 1941 | 24 November 1943 | 2 years, 12 days | ![]() | |
Permanent command | ||||||
2 | Sarit Thanarat (1908–1963) | Field Marshal27 September 1957 | 8 December 1963 † | 6 years, 72 days | ![]() | |
3 | Thanom Kittikachorn (1911–2004) | Field Marshal11 December 1963 | 30 September 1973 | 9 years, 293 days | ![]() | |
4 | Dawee Chullasapya (1914–1996) | Air Chief Marshal1 October 1973 | 30 September 1974 | 364 days | ![]() | |
5 | Kris Sivara (1914–1976) | General1 October 1974 | 30 September 1975 | 364 days | ![]() | |
6 | Sangad Chaloryu (1915–1980) | Admiral1 October 1975 | 30 September 1976 | 365 days | ![]() | |
7 | Kamon Dachatungkha | Air Chief Marshal1 October 1976 | 30 September 1977 | 364 days | ![]() | |
8 | Kriangsak Chamanan (1917–2003) | General1 October 1977 | 30 September 1978 | 364 days | ![]() | |
9 | Serm Na Nagara | General1 October 1979 | 30 September 1981 | 1 year, 364 days | ![]() | |
10 | Saiyud Kerdphol | General1 October 1981 | 30 September 1983 | 1 year, 364 days | ![]() | |
11 | Arthit Kamlang-ek (1925–2015) | General1 October 1983 | 31 August 1986 | 2 years, 334 days | ![]() | |
12 | Supa Gajaseni | Admiral1 September 1986 | 30 September 1987 | 1 year, 29 days | ![]() | |
13 | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh (born 1932) | General1 October 1987 | 31 March 1990 | 2 years, 181 days | ![]() | |
14 | Sunthorn Kongsompong (1931–1999) | General1 April 1990 | 30 September 1991 | 1 year, 182 days | ![]() | |
15 | Suchinda Kraprayoon (born 1933) | General1 October 1991 | 4 April 1992 | 186 days | ![]() | |
16 | Kaset Rojananil (1933–2024) | Air Chief Marshal6 April 1992 | 31 July 1992 | 116 days | ![]() | |
17 | Voranat Aphichari | Air Chief Marshal1 August 1992 | 30 September 1994 | 2 years, 60 days | ![]() | |
18 | Watanachai Wootisiri | General1 October 1994 | 30 September 1995 | 364 days | ![]() | |
19 | Viroj Sangsanit | General1 October 1995 | 30 September 1996 | 365 days | ![]() | |
20 | Mongkon Amphornpisit | General1 October 1996 | 30 September 2000 | 3 years, 365 days | ![]() | |
21 | Somphao Chusri | General1 October 2000 | 30 September 2001 | 364 days | ![]() | |
22 | Narong Yuthavong | Admiral1 October 2001 | 30 September 2002 | 364 days | ![]() | |
23 | Surayud Chulanont (born 1943) | General1 October 2002 | 30 September 2003 | 364 days | ![]() | |
24 | Somtat Attanand | General1 October 2003 | 30 September 2004 | 365 days | ![]() | |
25 | Chaiyasit Shinawatra (born 1945) | General1 October 2004 | 30 September 2005 | 364 days | ![]() | |
26 | Ruangroj Mahasaranon (born 1946) | General1 October 2005 | 30 September 2006 | 364 days | ![]() | |
27 | Boonsrang Niumpradit (born 1948) | General1 October 2006 | 30 September 2008 | 1 year, 365 days | ![]() |
Chiefs of Defence Forces (2008−present)
[edit]No. | Portrait | Chief of Defence Forces | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
28 | Songkitti Jaggabatara (born 1950) | General1 October 2008 | 30 September 2011 | 2 years, 364 days | ![]() | |
29 | Thanasak Patimaprakorn (born 1953) | General1 October 2011 | 30 September 2014 | 2 years, 364 days | ![]() | |
30 | Worapong Sanganetra (born 1955) | General1 October 2014 | 30 September 2015 | 364 days | ![]() | |
31 | Sommai Kaotira (born 1956) | General1 October 2015 | 30 September 2016 | 365 days | ![]() | |
32 | Surapong Suwana-adth (born 1956) | General1 October 2016 | 30 September 2017 | 365 days | ![]() | |
33 | Thanchaiyan Srisuwan (born 1958) | General1 October 2017 | 30 September 2018 | 364 days | ![]() | |
34 | Pornpipat Benyasri (born 1960) | General1 October 2018 | 30 September 2020 | 1 year, 365 days | ![]() | |
35 | Chalermpol Srisawat (born 1963) | General1 October 2020 | 30 September 2023 | 2 years, 364 days | ![]() | |
36 | Songwit Noonpakdee (born 1965) | General1 October 2023 | Incumbent | 330 days | ![]() |
See also
[edit]- Royal Thai Armed Forces
- Head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces
- List of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army
- List of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy
- List of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force