Chief of Defence Forces (Thailand)

Senior appointment in the armed forces of Thailand

Chief of Defence Forces

ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด

Flag of the Chief of Defence Forces

Incumbent
General Songwit Noonpakdee

since 1 October 2023

Ministry of Defence
Member of| Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
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, RTGS: Phu Bancha Kan Thahan Sung Sut) is the overall field commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. He is also in charge of managing the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. Not to be confused with the ceremonial Highest Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces who is the constitutional 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.

## 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

| Phibunsongkhram, PlaekMajor General
Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(1897–1964)| 13 November 1940| 30 April 1941| 168 days|  Royal Thai Army
Temporary command during the Pacific War
(1)|

| Phibunsongkhram, PlaekField Marshal
Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(1897–1964)| 12 November 1941| 24 November 1943| 2 years, 12 days|  Royal Thai Army
Permanent command

| Thanarat, SaritField Marshal
Sarit Thanarat
(1908–1963)| 27 September 1957| 8 December 1963 †| 6 years, 72 days|  Royal Thai Army

| Kittikachorn, ThanomField Marshal
Thanom Kittikachorn
(1911–2004)| 11 December 1963| 30 September 1973| 9 years, 293 days|  Royal Thai Army

| Chullasapya, DaweeAir Chief Marshal
Dawee Chullasapya
(1914–1996)| 1 October 1973| 30 September 1974| 364 days|  Royal Thai Air Force

| Sivara, KrisGeneral
Kris Sivara
(1914–1976)| 1 October 1974| 30 September 1975| 364 days|  Royal Thai Army

| Chaloryu, SangadAdmiral
Sangad Chaloryu
(1915–1980)| 1 October 1975| 30 September 1976| 365 days|  Royal Thai Navy

| Dachatungkha, KamonAir Chief Marshal
Kamon Dachatungkha [th]
(1917–2002)| 1 October 1976| 30 September 1977| 364 days|  Royal Thai Air Force

| Chamanan, KriangsakGeneral
Kriangsak Chamanan
(1917–2003)| 1 October 1977| 30 September 1978| 364 days|  Royal Thai Army

| Na Nagara, SermGeneral
Serm Na Nagara [th]
(1921–2009)| 1 October 1979| 30 September 1981| 1 year, 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
10|

| Kerdphol, SaiyudGeneral
Saiyud Kerdphol [th]
(born 1923)| 1 October 1981| 30 September 1983| 1 year, 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
11|

| Kamlang-ek, ArthitGeneral
Arthit Kamlang-ek
(1925–2015)| 1 October 1983| 31 August 1986| 2 years, 334 days|  Royal Thai Army
12|

| Gajaseni, SupaAdmiral
Supa Gajaseni [th]
(1926–2021)| 1 September 1986| 30 September 1987| 1 year, 29 days|  Royal Thai Navy
13|

| Yongchaiyudh, ChavalitGeneral
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
(born 1932)| 1 October 1987| 31 March 1990| 2 years, 181 days|  Royal Thai Army
14|

| Kongsompong, SunthornGeneral
Sunthorn Kongsompong
(1931–1999)| 1 April 1990| 30 September 1991| 1 year, 182 days|  Royal Thai Army
15|

| Kraprayoon, SuchindaGeneral
Suchinda Kraprayoon
(1933–2025)| 1 October 1991| 4 April 1992| 186 days|  Royal Thai Army
16|

| Rojananil, KasetAir Chief Marshal
Kaset Rojananil
(1933–2024)| 6 April 1992| 31 July 1992| 116 days|  Royal Thai Air Force
17|

| Aphichari, VoranatAir Chief Marshal
Voranat Aphichari [th]
(1934–2015)| 1 August 1992| 30 September 1994| 2 years, 60 days|  Royal Thai Air Force
18|

| Wootisiri, WatanachaiGeneral
Watanachai Wootisiri [th]
(1935–2024)| 1 October 1994| 30 September 1995| 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
19|

| Sangsanit, VirojGeneral
Viroj Sangsanit [th]
(born 1935)| 1 October 1995| 30 September 1996| 365 days|  Royal Thai Army
20|

| Amphornpisit, MongkonGeneral
Mongkon Amphornpisit [th]
(born 1940)| 1 October 1996| 30 September 2000| 3 years, 365 days|  Royal Thai Army
21|

| Chusri, SomphaoGeneral
Somphao Chusri [th]
(1941–2024)| 1 October 2000| 30 September 2001| 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
22|

| Yuthavong, NarongAdmiral
Narong Yuthavong [th]
(born 1941)| 1 October 2001| 30 September 2002| 364 days|  Royal Thai Navy
23|

| Chulanont, SurayudGeneral
Surayud Chulanont
(born 1943)| 1 October 2002| 30 September 2003| 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
24|

| Attanand, SomtatGeneral
Somtat Attanand [th]
(born 1944)| 1 October 2003| 30 September 2004| 365 days|  Royal Thai Army
25|

| Shinawatra, ChaiyasitGeneral
Chaiyasit Shinawatra
(born 1945)| 1 October 2004| 30 September 2005| 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
26|

| Mahasaranon, RuangrojGeneral
Ruangroj Mahasaranon
(born 1946)| 1 October 2005| 30 September 2006| 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
27|

| Niumpradit, BoonsrangGeneral
Boonsrang Niumpradit [th]
(born 1948)| 1 October 2006| 30 September 2008| 1 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|

| Jaggabatara, SongkittiGeneral
Songkitti Jaggabatara
(born 1950)| 1 October 2008| 30 September 2011| 2 years, 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
29|

| Patimaprakorn, ThanasakGeneral
Thanasak Patimaprakorn
(born 1953)| 1 October 2011| 30 September 2014| 2 years, 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
30|

| Sanganetra, WorapongGeneral
Worapong Sanganetra [th]
(born 1955)| 1 October 2014| 30 September 2015| 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
31|

| Kaotira, SommaiGeneral
Sommai Kaotira [th]
(born 1956)| 1 October 2015| 30 September 2016| 365 days|  Royal Thai Army
32|

| Suwan-ath, SurapongGeneral
Surapong Suwana-adth
(born 1956)| 1 October 2016| 30 September 2017| 365 days|  Royal Thai Army
33|

| Srisuwan, ThanchaiyanGeneral
Thanchaiyan Srisuwan
(born 1958)| 1 October 2017| 30 September 2018| 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
34|

| Benyasri, PornpipatGeneral
Pornpipat Benyasri
(born 1960)| 1 October 2018| 30 September 2020| 1 year, 365 days|  Royal Thai Army
35|

| Chalermpol SrisawatGeneral
Chalermpol Srisawat
(born 1963)| 1 October 2020| 30 September 2023| 2 years, 364 days|  Royal Thai Army
36|

| Songwit NoonpakdeeGeneral
Songwit Noonpakdee
(born 1965)| 1 October 2023| Incumbent| 1 year, 297 days|  Royal Thai Army

## See also

[edit]

* Royal Thai Armed Forces
* Head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces
* List of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army
* List of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy
* List of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force

## References

[edit]

* Former commander (Thai)

* v
* t
* e

Royal Thai Armed Forces

Highest Commander of the Armed Forces

Branches|

* Royal Thai Army
* Royal Thai Navy
* Royal Thai Air Force

Command|

* Ministry of Defence
* Minister of Defence (Kalahom)
* Royal Thai Armed Forces HQ
* Chief of Defence Forces
* Chief of the Army
* Chief of the Navy
* Chief of the Air Force

Units|

* King's Guard
* Royal Thai Marine Corps
* Air and Coastal Defense Command
* Royal Thai Air Force Security Force Command
* Territorial Defense Student

Division|

* 1st Infantry Division, King's Guard
* 2nd Infantry Division, Queen Sirikit's Guard
* 3rd Infantry Division
* 4th Infantry Division
* 5th Infantry Division
* 6th Infantry Division
* 7th Infantry Division
* 9th Infantry Division
* 11th Infantry Division
* 15th Infantry Division
* 1st Cavalry Division
* 2nd Cavalry Division, King's Guard
* 3rd Cavalry Division
* 1st Development Division
* 2nd Development Division
* 3rd Development Division
* 4th Development Division

Special forces|

* Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command
* Royal Thai Army Ranger
* Special Operation Battalion 90th Task Force
* Naval Special Warfare Command
* RTMC Reconnaissance Battalion
* RTAF Special Operations Regiment

Paramilitary|

* Thahan Phran
* Border Patrol Police (Royal Thai Police)
* Volunteer Defense Corps (Ministry of Interior)

Reserve Forces|

* Territorial Defense Student

Academies|

* Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School
* National Defence College
* Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy
* Royal Thai Naval Academy
* Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Thai Air Force Academy
* Royal Thai Police Cadet Academy
* Phramongkutklao College of Medicine
* Royal Thai Army Nursing College
* Royal Thai Navy Nursing College
* Royal Thai Air Force Nursing College

Equipment|

* Army
* Navy
* Air Force

Others|

* History of the Military
* Military Flags
* Ranks of the Armed Forces
* Military courts
* Thai Royal Guards parade
* Order of Rama
* Lerdrit

* v
* t
* e

Chiefs of defence by country

Chief of Defence

Africa|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* DR Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* Somaliland
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

former|

* Biafra
* Bophuthatswana
* Ciskei
* British Egypt
* Ethiopian Empire
* Rhodesia
* Transkei
* Venda
* Zaire

Americas|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Canada
* Chile
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Secretariat of National Defense
* Secretariat of the Navy
* Nicaragua
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Asia|

* Afghanistan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* AJA
* IRGC
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* North Korea
* South Korea
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Taiwan
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

former|

* Democratic Kampuchea
* Imperial Japan
* Mengjiang
* Manchukuo
* South Vietnam

Europe|

* Abkhazia
* Albania
* Armenia
* Artsakh
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Georgia
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Italy
* Kosovo
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Northern Cyprus
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* South Ossetia
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Transnistria
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Vatican

former|

* Austria–Hungary
* Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Independent State of Croatia
* Czechoslovakia
* Prussia
* Imperial Germany
* Nazi Germany
* East Germany
* Ottoman Empire
* Russian Empire
* Republika Srpska
* Republic of Serb Krajina
* Soviet Union
* Yugoslavia

Oceania|

* Australia
* Fiji
* New Zealand
* Papua New Guinea
* Tonga
* Vanuatu

Supranational|

* European Union
* NATO

former|

* Warsaw Pact

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