Chief of Defence Forces (Thailand)

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Chief of Defence Forces
ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด
Flag of the Chief of Defence Forces
Incumbent
General Songwit Noonpakdee
since 1 October 2023
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 Phibunsongkhram
WebsiteOfficial 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.

The current commander is General Songwit Noonpakdee since October 2023.

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
Phibunsongkhram, PlaekMajor General
Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(1897–1964)
13 November 194030 April 1941168 days Royal Thai Army
Temporary command during the Pacific War
(1)
Plaek Phibunsongkhram
Phibunsongkhram, PlaekField Marshal
Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(1897–1964)
12 November 194124 November 19432 years, 12 days Royal Thai Army
Permanent command
2
Sarit Thanarat
Thanarat, SaritField Marshal
Sarit Thanarat
(1908–1963)
27 September 19578 December 1963 †6 years, 72 days Royal Thai Army
3
Thanom Kittikachorn
Kittikachorn, ThanomField Marshal
Thanom Kittikachorn
(1911–2004)
11 December 196330 September 19739 years, 293 days Royal Thai Army
4
Dawee Chullasapya
Chullasapya, DaweeAir Chief Marshal
Dawee Chullasapya
(1914–1996)
1 October 197330 September 1974364 days Royal Thai Air Force
5
Kris Sivara
Sivara, KrisGeneral
Kris Sivara
(1914–1976)
1 October 197430 September 1975364 days Royal Thai Army
6
Sangad Chaloryu
Chaloryu, SangadAdmiral
Sangad Chaloryu
(1915–1980)
1 October 197530 September 1976365 days Royal Thai Navy
7
Kamon Dachatungkha
Dachatungkha, KamonAir Chief Marshal
Kamon Dachatungkha
1 October 197630 September 1977364 days Royal Thai Air Force
8
Kriangsak Chamanan
Chamanan, KriangsakGeneral
Kriangsak Chamanan
(1917–2003)
1 October 197730 September 1978364 days Royal Thai Army
9
Serm Na Nagara
Na Nagara, SermGeneral
Serm Na Nagara
1 October 197930 September 19811 year, 364 days Royal Thai Army
10
Saiyud Kerdphol
Kerdphol, SaiyudGeneral
Saiyud Kerdphol
1 October 198130 September 19831 year, 364 days Royal Thai Army
11
Arthit Kamlang-ek
Kamlang-ek, ArthitGeneral
Arthit Kamlang-ek
(1925–2015)
1 October 198331 August 19862 years, 334 days Royal Thai Army
12
Supa Gajaseni
Gajaseni, SupaAdmiral
Supa Gajaseni
1 September 198630 September 19871 year, 29 days Royal Thai Navy
13
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
Yongchaiyudh, ChavalitGeneral
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
(born 1932)
1 October 198731 March 19902 years, 181 days Royal Thai Army
14
Sunthorn Kongsompong
Kongsompong, SunthornGeneral
Sunthorn Kongsompong
(1931–1999)
1 April 199030 September 19911 year, 182 days Royal Thai Army
15
Suchinda Kraprayoon
Kraprayoon, SuchindaGeneral
Suchinda Kraprayoon
(born 1933)
1 October 19914 April 1992186 days Royal Thai Army
16
Kaset Rojananil
Rojananil, KasetAir Chief Marshal
Kaset Rojananil
(born 1933)
6 April 199231 July 1992116 days Royal Thai Air Force
17
Voranat Aphichari
Aphichari, VoranatAir Chief Marshal
Voranat Aphichari
1 August 199230 September 19942 years, 60 days Royal Thai Air Force
18
Watanachai Wootisiri
Wootisiri, WatanachaiGeneral
Watanachai Wootisiri
1 October 199430 September 1995364 days Royal Thai Army
19
Viroj Sangsanit
Sangsanit, VirojGeneral
Viroj Sangsanit
1 October 199530 September 1996365 days Royal Thai Army
20
Mongkon Amphornpisit [th]
Amphornpisit, MongkonGeneral
Mongkon Amphornpisit [th]
1 October 199630 September 20003 years, 365 days Royal Thai Army
21
Somphao Chusri [th]
Chusri, SomphaoGeneral
Somphao Chusri [th]
1 October 200030 September 2001364 days Royal Thai Army
22
Narong Yuthavong [th]
Yuthavong, NarongAdmiral
Narong Yuthavong [th]
1 October 200130 September 2002364 days Royal Thai Navy
23
Surayud Chulanont
Chulanont, SurayudGeneral
Surayud Chulanont
(born 1943)
1 October 200230 September 2003364 days Royal Thai Army
24
Somtat Attanand [th]
Attanand, SomtatGeneral
Somtat Attanand [th]
1 October 200330 September 2004365 days Royal Thai Army
25
Chaiyasit Shinawatra
Shinawatra, ChaiyasitGeneral
Chaiyasit Shinawatra
(born 1945)
1 October 200430 September 2005364 days Royal Thai Army
26
Ruangroj Mahasaranon
Mahasaranon, RuangrojGeneral
Ruangroj Mahasaranon
(born 1946)
1 October 200530 September 2006364 days Royal Thai Army
27
Boonsrang Niumpradit [th]
Niumpradit, BoonsrangGeneral
Boonsrang Niumpradit [th]
(born 1948)
1 October 200630 September 20081 year, 365 days Royal Thai Army

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
Jaggabatara, SongkittiGeneral
Songkitti Jaggabatara
(born 1950)
1 October 200830 September 20112 years, 364 days Royal Thai Army
29
Thanasak Patimaprakorn
Patimaprakorn, ThanasakGeneral
Thanasak Patimaprakorn
(born 1953)
1 October 201130 September 20142 years, 364 days Royal Thai Army
30
Worapong Sanganetra [th]
Sanganetra, WorapongGeneral
Worapong Sanganetra [th]
(born 1955)
1 October 201430 September 2015364 days Royal Thai Army
31
Sommai Kaotira [th]
Kaotira, SommaiGeneral
Sommai Kaotira [th]
(born 1956)
1 October 201530 September 2016365 days Royal Thai Army
32
Surapong Suwana-adth
Suwan-ath, SurapongGeneral
Surapong Suwana-adth
(born 1956)
1 October 201630 September 2017365 days Royal Thai Army
33
Thanchaiyan Srisuwan
Srisuwan, ThanchaiyanGeneral
Thanchaiyan Srisuwan
(born 1958)
1 October 201730 September 2018364 days Royal Thai Army
34
Pornpipat Benyasri
Benyasri, PornpipatGeneral
Pornpipat Benyasri
(born 1960)
1 October 201830 September 20201 year, 365 days Royal Thai Army
35
Chalermpol Srisawat
Chalermpol SrisawatGeneral
Chalermpol Srisawat
(born 1963)
1 October 202030 September 20232 years, 364 days Royal Thai Army
36
Songwit Noonpakdee
Songwit NoonpakdeeGeneral
Songwit Noonpakdee
(born 1965)
1 October 2023Incumbent171 days Royal Thai Army

See also[edit]

References[edit]