List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
Chief of the Defence Forces ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด | |
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Standard of the supreme commander | |
Incumbent General Surapong Suwan-ath since 1 October 2016 | |
Nominator | Minister of Defense |
Appointer | HM the King |
Inaugural holder | Plaek Phibunsongkhram |
Formation | 13 November 1940 |
Website | Commands HQ commanders |
The Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters or the Chief of the Defence Forces (Thai: ผู้บัญชาการกองทัพไทย) is the overall field commander of Royal Thai Armed Forces. He is also in charge of managing the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. Prior to 1960 the post was an ad hoc creation by Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, during the Second World War. However under Field Marshal Sarit Dhanarajata the position became permanent, and in its early life was even combined with the post of Prime Minister of Thailand. In February 2008 the name of the post was changed from Supreme Commander of the Supreme Command HQ (ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด) to the Commander of the RTAFHQ or Chief of the Defence Forces (ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุดประจำกองบัญชาการกองทัพไทย). The current commander is General Sommai Kaotira since 2015.
Supreme Commander
No. | Rank | Name | Term begins | Term ends | Branch |
1 | Field Marshal | Plaek Phibunsongkhram | 13 November 1940 | 30 April 1941 | Royal Thai Army |
12 November 1941 | 24 November 1943 | ||||
2 | Field Marshal | Sarit Thanarat | 27 September 1957 | 8 December 1963 | Royal Thai Army |
3 | Field Marshal | Thanom Kittikachorn | 11 December 1963 | 30 September 1973 | Royal Thai Army |
4 | Air Chief Marshal | Dawee Chullasapya | 1 October 1973 | 30 September 1974 | Royal Thai Air Force |
5 | General | Krit Srivara | 1 October 1974 | 30 September 1975 | Royal Thai Army |
6 | Admiral | Sangad Chaloryu | 1 October 1975 | 30 September 1976 | Royal Thai Navy |
7 | Air Chief Marshal | Kamon Dachatungkha | 1 October 1976 | 30 September 1977 | Royal Thai Air Force |
8 | General | Kriangsak Chomanan | 1 October 1977 | 30 September 1978 | Royal Thai Army |
9 | General | Serm na Nakhon | 1 October 1979 | 30 September 1981 | Royal Thai Army |
10 | General | Saiyud Kerdphol | 1 October 1981 | 30 September 1983 | Royal Thai Army |
11 | General | Arthit Kamlang-ek | 1 October 1983 | 30 September 1986 | Royal Thai Army |
12 | Admiral | Supha Gajaseni | 1 October 1986 | 30 September 1987 | Royal Thai Navy |
13 | General | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | 1 October 1987 | 31 March 1990 | Royal Thai Army |
14 | General | Sunthorn Kongsompong | 1 April 1990 | 30 September 1991 | Royal Thai Army |
15 | General | Suchinda Kraprayoon | 1 October 1991 | 4 April 1992 | Royal Thai Army |
16 | Air Chief Marshal | Kaset Rojananin | 6 April 1992 | 31 July 1992 | Royal Thai Air Force |
17 | Air Chief Marshal | Voranat Aphichari | 1 August 1992 | 30 September 1994 | Royal Thai Air Force |
18 | General | Watanachai Wootisiri | 1 October 1994 | 30 September 1995 | Royal Thai Army |
19 | General | Viroj Sangsanit | 1 October 1995 | 30 September 1996 | Royal Thai Army |
20 | General | Mongkon Amphornpisit | 1 October 1996 | 30 September 2000 | Royal Thai Army |
21 | General | Somphao Chusri | 1 October 2000 | 30 September 2001 | Royal Thai Army |
22 | Admiral | Narong Yuthavong | 1 October 2001 | 30 September 2002 | Royal Thai Navy |
23 | General | Surayud Chulanont | 1 October 2002 | 30 September 2003 | Royal Thai Army |
24 | General | Somtat Attanand | 1 October 2003 | 30 September 2004 | Royal Thai Army |
25 | General | Chaiyasit Shinawatra | 1 October 2004 | 30 September 2005 | Royal Thai Army |
26 | General | Ruangroj Mahasaranon | 1 October 2005 | 30 September 2006 | Royal Thai Army |
27 | General | Boonsrang Niumpradit | 1 October 2006 | 30 September 2008 | Royal Thai Army |
Chief of the Defence Forces
No. | Rank | Name | Term begins | Term ends | Branch |
28 | General | Songkitti Jaggabatara | 1 October 2008 | 30 September 2011 | Royal Thai Army |
29 | General | Tanasak Patimapragorn | 1 October 2011 | 30 September 2014 | Royal Thai Army |
30 | General | Worapong Sanganetra | 1 October 2014 | 30 September 2015 | Royal Thai Army |
31 | General | Sommai Kaotira | 1 October 2015 | 30 October 2016 | Royal Thai Army |
32 | General | Surapong Suwan-ath | 1 October 2016 | Incumbent | Royal Thai Army |
See also
- Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
- Royal Thai Armed Forces
- List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Army
- List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Navy
- List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Air Force
- Chief of Defence