List of Chiefs of Defence Forces (Thailand)

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.

Chief of Defence Forces
Thai: ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด
Flag of the Chief of Defence Forces
Incumbent
General Chalermpol Srisawat
since 1 October 2020
Ministry of Defence
Member ofRTARF HQ
Reports toMinister of Defence
SeatLak Si, Bangkok
NominatorMinister of Defence
AppointerKing of Thailand
Formation13 November 1940
First holderField Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram
WebsiteOfficial website

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).

Since the Chief of Defence Forces acts more like a coordinator between three military branches and he commands smaller military force than the Army, the Navy, of the Air Force has, the position is usually reserved for senior army generals who will not be appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. 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 Chalermpol Srisawat since October 2020.

List of Chiefs

Supreme Commanders (1941−2008)
No. Supreme CommanderTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branch
Temporary command during the Franco-Thai War
1
Phibunsongkhram, PlaekField Marshal
Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(1897–1964)		13 November 194030 April 1941168 days Royal Thai Army
Temporary command during the Pacific War
(1)
Phibunsongkhram, PlaekField Marshal
Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(1897–1964)		12 November 194124 November 19432 years, 12 days Royal Thai Army
Permanent command
2
Thanarat, SaritField Marshal
Sarit Thanarat
(1908–1963)		27 September 19578 December 1963 †6 years, 72 days Royal Thai Army
3
Kittikachorn, ThanomField Marshal
Thanom Kittikachorn
(1911–2004)		11 December 196330 September 19739 years, 293 days Royal Thai Army
4
Chullasapya, DaweeAir Chief Marshal
Dawee Chullasapya
(1914–1996)		1 October 197330 September 1974364 days Royal Thai Air Force
5
Sivara, KrisGeneral
Kris Sivara
(1914–1976)		1 October 197430 September 1975364 days Royal Thai Army
6
Chaloryu, SangadAdmiral
Sangad Chaloryu
(1915–1980)		1 October 197530 September 1976365 days Royal Thai Navy
7
Dachatungkha, KamonAir Chief Marshal
Kamon Dachatungkha		1 October 197630 September 1977364 days Royal Thai Air Force
8
Chamanan, KriangsakGeneral
Kriangsak Chamanan
(1917–2003)		1 October 197730 September 1978364 days Royal Thai Army
9
Na Nagara, SermGeneral
Serm Na Nagara		1 October 197930 September 19811 year, 364 days Royal Thai Army
10
Kerdphol, SaiyudGeneral
Saiyud Kerdphol		1 October 198130 September 19831 year, 364 days Royal Thai Army
11
Kamlang-ek, ArthitGeneral
Arthit Kamlang-ek
(1925–2015)		1 October 198331 August 19862 years, 334 days Royal Thai Army
12
Gajaseni, SupaAdmiral
Supa Gajaseni		1 September 198630 September 19871 year, 29 days Royal Thai Navy
13
Yongchaiyudh, ChavalitGeneral
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
(born 1932)		1 October 198731 March 19902 years, 181 days Royal Thai Army
14
Kongsompong, SunthornGeneral
Sunthorn Kongsompong
(1931–1999)		1 April 199030 September 19911 year, 182 days Royal Thai Army
15
Kraprayoon, SuchindaGeneral
Suchinda Kraprayoon
(born 1933)		1 October 19914 April 1992186 days Royal Thai Army
16
Rojananil, KasetAir Chief Marshal
Kaset Rojananil
(born 1933)		6 April 199231 July 1992116 days Royal Thai Air Force
17
Aphichari, VoranatAir Chief Marshal
Voranat Aphichari		1 August 199230 September 19942 years, 60 days Royal Thai Air Force
18
Wootisiri, WatanachaiGeneral
Watanachai Wootisiri		1 October 199430 September 1995364 days Royal Thai Army
19
Sangsanit, VirojGeneral
Viroj Sangsanit		1 October 199530 September 1996365 days Royal Thai Army
20
Amphornpisit, MongkonGeneral
Mongkon Amphornpisit		1 October 199630 September 20003 years, 365 days Royal Thai Army
21
Chusri, SomphaoGeneral
Somphao Chusri		1 October 200030 September 2001364 days Royal Thai Army
22
Yuthavong, NarongAdmiral
Narong Yuthavong		1 October 200130 September 2002364 days Royal Thai Navy
23
Chulanont, SurayudGeneral
Surayud Chulanont
(born 1943)		1 October 200230 September 2003364 days Royal Thai Army
24
Attanand, SomtatGeneral
Somtat Attanand		1 October 200330 September 2004365 days Royal Thai Army
25
Shinawatra, ChaiyasitGeneral
Chaiyasit Shinawatra
(born 1945)		1 October 200430 September 2005364 days Royal Thai Army
26
Mahasaranon, RuangrojGeneral
Ruangroj Mahasaranon
(born 1946)		1 October 200530 September 2006364 days Royal Thai Army
27
Niumpradit, BoonsrangGeneral
Boonsrang Niumpradit
(born 1948)		1 October 200630 September 20081 year, 365 days Royal Thai Army

Chiefs of Defence Forces (2008−present)
No. Chief of Defence ForcesTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branch
28
Jaggabatara, SongkittiGeneral
Songkitti Jaggabatara
(born 1950)		1 October 200830 September 20112 years, 364 days Royal Thai Army
29
Patimaprakorn, ThanasakGeneral
Thanasak Patimaprakorn
(born 1953)		1 October 201130 September 20142 years, 364 days Royal Thai Army
30
Sanganetra, WorapongGeneral
Worapong Sanganetra
(born 1955)		1 October 201430 September 2015364 days Royal Thai Army
31
Kaotira, SommaiGeneral
Sommai Kaotira
(born 1956)		1 October 201530 September 2016365 days Royal Thai Army
32
Suwan-ath, SurapongGeneral
Surapong Suwan-ath
(born 1956)		1 October 201630 September 2017365 days Royal Thai Army
33
Srisuwan, ThanchaiyanGeneral
Thanchaiyan Srisuwan
(born 1958)		1 October 201730 September 2018364 days Royal Thai Army
34
Benyasri, PornpipatGeneral
Pornpipat Benyasri
(born 1960)		1 October 201830 September 20201 year, 365 days Royal Thai Army
35
Chalermpol SrisawatGeneral
Chalermpol Srisawat
(born 1963)		1 October 2020Incumbent126 days Royal Thai Army

See also

References
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