List of Commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters

Chief of the Defence Forces
ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด

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

Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, the first Supreme Commander of the Thai Armed Forces Headquarters.
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

General Songkitti Jaggabatara, First Chief of the Defence Forces (ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด)
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

References

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