List of Chiefs of Defence Forces (Thailand)
| Chief of Defence Forces
Thai: ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Chief of Defence Forces | |
|
Incumbent General Pornpipat Benyasri since 1 October 2018 | |
| Ministry of Defence | |
| Member of |
RTARF HQ NCPO |
| 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 Plaek Phibunsongkhram |
| Website | Official website |
The Chief of Defence Forces, previously known as the Supreme Commander, (Thai: ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด) is the overall field commander of Royal Thai Armed Forces. He is also in charge of managing the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters (abbreviated as the RTARF HQ). 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). It is customary to appoint the chief of defence to four-star rank in all three branches in the Armed Forces. The current commander is General Thanchaiyan Srisuwan since 2017. 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.
List of Chiefs
Supreme Commanders (1941−2008)
| № | Supreme Commander | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary command during the Franco-Thai War | ||||||
| 1 | Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram (1897–1964) | 13 November 1940 | 30 April 1941 | 168 days |  | |
| Temporary command during the Pacific War | ||||||
| (1) | Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram (1897–1964) | 12 November 1941 | 24 November 1943 | 2 years, 12 days | | |
| Permanent command | ||||||
| 2 | Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat (1908–1963) | 27 September 1957 | 8 December 1963 † | 6 years, 72 days | | |
| 3 | Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn (1911–2004) | 11 December 1963 | 30 September 1973 | 9 years, 293 days | | |
| 4 | Air Chief Marshal Dawee Chullasapya (1914–1996) | 1 October 1973 | 30 September 1974 | 364 days |  | |
| 5 | General Kris Sivara (1914–1976) | 1 October 1974 | 30 September 1975 | 364 days | | |
| 6 | Admiral Sangad Chaloryu (1915–1980) | 1 October 1975 | 30 September 1976 | 365 days |  | |
| 7 | Air Chief Marshal Kamon Dachatungkha | 1 October 1976 | 30 September 1977 | 364 days | | |
| 8 | General Kriangsak Chamanan (1917–2003) | 1 October 1977 | 30 September 1978 | 364 days | | |
| 9 | General Serm Na Nagara | 1 October 1979 | 30 September 1981 | 1 year, 364 days | | |
| 10 | General Saiyud Kerdphol | 1 October 1981 | 30 September 1983 | 1 year, 364 days | | |
| 11 | General Arthit Kamlang-ek (1925–2015) | 1 October 1983 | 31 August 1986 | 2 years, 334 days | | |
| 12 | Admiral Supa Gajaseni | 1 September 1986 | 30 September 1987 | 1 year, 29 days | | |
| 13 | General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh (born 1932) | 1 October 1987 | 31 March 1990 | 2 years, 181 days | | |
| 14 | General Sunthorn Kongsompong (1931–1999) | 1 April 1990 | 30 September 1991 | 1 year, 182 days | | |
| 15 | General Suchinda Kraprayoon (born 1933) | 1 October 1991 | 4 April 1992 | 186 days | | |
| 16 | Air Chief Marshal Kaset Rojananil (born 1933) | 6 April 1992 | 31 July 1992 | 116 days | | |
| 17 | Air Chief Marshal Voranat Aphichari | 1 August 1992 | 30 September 1994 | 2 years, 60 days | | |
| 18 | General Watanachai Wootisiri | 1 October 1994 | 30 September 1995 | 364 days | | |
| 19 | General Viroj Sangsanit | 1 October 1995 | 30 September 1996 | 365 days | | |
| 20 | General Mongkon Amphornpisit | 1 October 1996 | 30 September 2000 | 3 years, 365 days | | |
| 21 | General Somphao Chusri | 1 October 2000 | 30 September 2001 | 364 days | | |
| 22 | Admiral Narong Yuthavong | 1 October 2001 | 30 September 2002 | 364 days | | |
| 23 | General Surayud Chulanont (born 1943) | 1 October 2002 | 30 September 2003 | 364 days | | |
| 24 | General Somtat Attanand | 1 October 2003 | 30 September 2004 | 365 days | | |
| 25 | General Chaiyasit Shinawatra (born 1945) | 1 October 2004 | 30 September 2005 | 364 days | | |
| 26 | General Ruangroj Mahasaranon (born 1946) | 1 October 2005 | 30 September 2006 | 364 days | | |
| 27 | General Boonsrang Niumpradit (born 1948) | 1 October 2006 | 30 September 2008 | 1 year, 365 days | | |
Chiefs of Defence Forces (2008−present)
| № | Chief of Defence Forces | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | General Songkitti Jaggabatara (born 1950) | 1 October 2008 | 30 September 2011 | 2 years, 364 days | | |
| 29 | General Thanasak Patimaprakorn (born 1953) | 1 October 2011 | 30 September 2014 | 2 years, 364 days | | |
| 30 | General Worapong Sanganetra (born 1955) | 1 October 2014 | 30 September 2015 | 364 days | | |
| 31 | General Sommai Kaotira (born 1956) | 1 October 2015 | 30 September 2016 | 365 days | | |
| 32 | General Surapong Suwan-ath (born 1956) | 1 October 2016 | 30 September 2017 | 365 days | | |
| 33 | General Thanchaiyan Srisuwan (born 1958) | 1 October 2017 | Incumbent | 1 year, 11 days | | |
| 34 | General Pornpipat Benyasri | 1 October 2018 | Incumbent | 11 days | |
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See also
References
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| Paramilitary | ||
| Reserve Forces | ||
| Academies |
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