List of defence ministers of Thailand

List of ministers of defence of Thailand

Minister of Defence

รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงกลาโหม

Standard of Defence Minister

Incumbent
Phumtham Wechayachai

since 3 September 2024

Ministry of Defence
Member of| Council of Ministers (Cabinet)
National Security Council
Nominator| Prime Minister
Appointer| The King
Formation| 1782
First holder|

* Chao Phraya Mahasaena [th] (as Samuha Kalahom)
* Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong (as Minister of Defence)

This is a list of ministers of defence of Thailand. Until the appointment of the incumbent, Sutin Klungsang, aside from Prime Ministers holding the post concurrently, all ministers had been active-duty or retired flag officers.[1] Sutin is the first civilian to be the head of the Ministry of Defence without holding the post of Prime Minister simultaneously, which were held by five former prime ministers without a military background.[2]

## Minister of Defence of Siam

[edit]

List of Siamese Ministers of Defense (Thai: เสนาบดีกลาโหม, Senabodi Kalahom)[3]

No.
(term) | Portrait | Defence Minister | Took office | Left office

|
|
|
|

12 |  | General Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong
(1863–1947) | 1894 | 1899
13 |  | Major general Prince Prachaksinlapakhom
(1856[4]–1924) | 1899 | 1901
14 |  | Field marshal Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse
(1859–1928) | 1901 | 1910
15 |  | Field marshal Prince Chirapravati Voradej
(1876–1913) | 11 December 1910[5] | 4 February 1913[5]
16 |  | Field marshal Chaophraya Bodindechanuchit (Arun Chatrakul)
(1856–1921) | 1913 | 26 August 1921
17 |  | General Chaophraya Bodindechanuchit (Yam Na Nakhon)
(1867–1961) | 26 August 1921 | 4 August 1926
18 |  | Field Marshal Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu
(1881–1944) | 24 August 1926 | 31 March 1928
19 |  | General Prince Boworadej
(1877–1953) | 1 April 1928 | 19 June 1931
20 |  | Admiral Prince Vudhijaya Chalermlabha
(1883–1947) | 8 November 1931[6] | 19 June 1932
21 |  | Vice Admiral Phraya Ratchawangsan (Sri Kamalanavin)
(1886–1939) | 12 August 1932 | 10 December 1932
22 |  | Major General Phraya Prasertsongkram (Tiap Komkris)
(1882–1951) | 29 June 1933 | 11 August 1933

## Minister of Defence of Thailand

[edit]

List of ministers of defence of Thailand (Thai: รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงกลาโหม Ratthamontri Wakarn Kasuang Kalahom)[3]

No.
(term) | Portrait | Defence Minister | Cabinet | Took office | Left office | Prime minister

|
|
|
|
|
|

(1,2) |  | Vice admiral Phraya Ratchawangsan (Sri Kamalanavin)
(1886–1939) | 2 | 10 December 1932 | 1 April 1933 | Phraya Manopakorn Nititada
3 | 1 April 1933 | 20 June 1933

(1,2) |  | Major general Phraya Prasertsongkram (Tiap Komkris)
(1882–1951) | 4 | 21 June 1933 | 16 December 1933 | Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena
5 | 16 December 1933 | 1 April 1934
23 |  | Colonel Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena
(Phot Phahonyothin)
(1887–1947) | 5 | 1 April 1934 | 22 September 1934

(1-4) |  | Field marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(1897–1964) | 6 | 22 September 1934 | 9 August 1937
7 | 10 August 1937 | 21 December 1937
8 | 21 December 1937 | 16 December 1938
9 | 21 December 1938 | 19 August 1941 | Plaek Phibunsongkhram
25 |  | General Mangkorn Phromyothi
(1896–1966) | 9 | 19 August 1941 | 15 December 1941

(5-6) |  | Field marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(1897–1964) | 9 | 15 December 1941 | 7 March 1942
10 | 10 March 1942 | 15 November 1943
26 |  | Lieutenant general Phichit Kriangsakphichit
(1896–1964) | 10 | 15 November 1943 | 1 August 1944
27 |  | Admiral Sindhu Kamalanavin
(1901–1976) | 11 | 2 August 1944 | 31 August 1945 | Khuang Aphaiwong

(1,2) |  | Lieutenant general Chit Munsilpa Sinadyodharaksa
(1896–1988) | 12 | 31 August 1945 | 17 September 1945 | Tawee Boonyaket
13 | 19 September 1945 | 14 October 1945 | Seni Pramoj

(1) |  | Lieutenant general Jira Wichitsongkhram
(1897–1979) | 13 | 14 October 1945 | 31 January 1946

(3) |  | Lieutenant general Chit Munsilpa Sinadyodharaksa
(1896–1988) | 14 | 2 February 1946 | 24 March 1946 | Khuang Aphaiwong

(2-5) |  | Lieutenant general Jira Wichitsongkhram
(1897–1979) | 15 | 24 March 1946 | 11 June 1946 | Pridi Banomyong
16 | 11 June 1946 | 23 August 1946
17 | 24 August 1946 | 30 May 1947 | Thawan Thamrongnawasawat
18 | 31 May 1947 | 8 November 1947

(1-3) |  | Lieutenant general Suk Chatnakrob
(?–?) | 19 | 11 November 1947 | 21 February 1948 | Khuang Aphaiwong
20 | 25 February 1948 | 8 April 1948
21 | 15 April 1948 | 25 June 1949 | Plaek Phibunsongkhram

(7-10) |  | Field marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(1897–1964) | 22 | 28 June 1949 | 29 November 1951
23 | 29 November 1951 | 6 December 1951
24 | 8 December 1951 | 23 March 1952
25 | 23 March 1952 | 26 February 1957
31 |  | Field marshal Sarit Thanarat
(1908–1963) | 26 | 31 March 1957 | 16 September 1957 | Plaek Phibunsongkhram
|  | Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn | 27 | 23 September 1957 | 26 December 1957 | Pote Sarasin
| 28 | 1 January 1958 | 20 October 1958 | Thanom Kittikachorn
32 | 29 | 10 February 1958 | 8 December 1962 | Sarit Thanarat
30 | 11 December 1962 | 7 March 1969 | Thanom Kittikachorn
| 31 | 11 March 1969 | 17 November 1971
| 32 | 19 December 1972 | 14 October 1973
33 |  | Air Chief Marshal Dawee Chullasapya | 33 | 16 October 1973 | 22 May 1974 | Sanya Dharmasakti
34 |  | General Kruyn Sutathanin | 34 | 30 May 1974 | 22 May 1975 | Sanya Dharmasakti
35 |  | General Tawich Seneewong | 35 | 15 February 1975 | 13 March 1975 | Seni Pramoj
36 |  | Police General Pramarn Adireksarn | 36 | 17 March 1975 | 12 January 1976 | Kukrit Pramoj
37 |  | General Kris Sivara | 37 | 21 April 1976 | 28 April 1976 | Seni Pramoj

(2) |  | General Tawich Seneewong | 37 | 28 April 1976 | 24 August 1976 | Seni Pramoj
38 |  | Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj | 37 | 27 August 1976 | 23 September 1976 | Seni Pramoj
39 |  | Admiral Sangad Chaloryu | 38 | 5 October 1976 | 6 October 1976 | Seni Pramoj
39 | 22 October 1976 | 20 October 1977 | Thanin Kraivichien
40 |  | General Lek Neawmalee | 40 | 12 November 1977 | 11 August 1977 | Kriangsak Chamanan
41 |  | General Kriangsak Chamanan | 40 | 11 August 1977 | 11 May 1979 | Kriangsak Chamanan
42 |  | General Prem Tinsulanonda | 41 | 24 May 1979 | 3 March 1980 | Kriangsak Chamanan
42 | 21 March 1980 | 19 March 1983 | Prem Tinsulanonda
43 | 7 May 1983 | 5 August 1986
43 |  | Air Chief Marshal Panieng Karntarat | 44 | 11 August 1986 | 3 August 1988 | Prem Tinsulanonda

(1) |  | General Chatichai Choonhavan | 45 | 4 August 1988 | 29 March 1990 | Chatichai Choonhavan

(1) |  | General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | 45 | 30 March 1990 | 3 August 1990 | Chatichai Choonhavan

(2,3) |  | General Chatichai Choonhavan | 45 | 21 June 1990 | 9 December 1990 | Chatichai Choonhavan
46 | 14 December 1990 | 23 February 1991
46 |  | Admiral Praphat Kritsanajun | 47 | 6 March 1991 | 22 March 1992 | Anand Panyarachun
47 |  | General Suchinda Kraprayoon | 48 | 17 April 1992 | 24 May 1992 | Suchinda Kraprayoon
48 |  | General Banjob Bunnag | 49 | 18 June 1992 | 23 September 1992 | Anand Panyarachun
49 |  | General Vijit Sukmak | 50 | 29 September 1992 | 13 July 1995 | Chuan Leekpai

(2,3) |  | General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | 51 | 13 July 1995 | 24 November 1996 | Banharn Silpa-archa
52 | 29 November 1996 | 8 September 1997 | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
50 |  | Chuan Leekpai | 53 | 14 September 1997 | 5 February 2001 | Chuan Leekpai

(4) |  | General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | 54 | 17 February 2001 | 3 October 2002 | Thaksin Shinawatra

(1) |  | General Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya | 54 | 3 October 2002 | 9 March 2004 | Thaksin Shinawatra
52 |  | General Chettha Thanajaro | 54 | 10 March 2004 | 5 October 2004 | Thaksin Shinawatra
53 |  | General Sampan Boonyanan | 54 | 6 October 2004 | 11 March 2005 | Thaksin Shinawatra

(2) |  | General Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya | 55 | 11 March 2005 | 19 September 2006 | Thaksin Shinawatra
54 |  | General Boonrod Somthat | 56 | 9 October 2006 | 5 February 2008 | Surayud Chulanont
55 |  | Samak Sundaravej | 57 | 6 February 2008 | 9 September 2008 | Samak Sundaravej
56 |  | Somchai Wongsawat | 58 | 24 September 2008 | 2 December 2008 | Somchai Wongsawat

(1) |  | General Prawit Wongsuwan | 59 | 20 December 2008 | 9 August 2011 | Abhisit Vejjajiva
58 |  | General Yuthasak Sasiprapha | 60 | 9 August 2011 | 18 January 2012 | Yingluck Shinawatra
59 |  | Air Chief Marshal Sukampol Suwannathat | 60 | 18 January 2012 | 30 June 2013 | Yingluck Shinawatra
60 |  | Yingluck Shinawatra | 60 | 30 June 2013 | 7 May 2014 | Yingluck Shinawatra

(2) |  | General Prawit Wongsuwan | 61 | 30 August 2014 | 10 July 2019 | Prayut Chan-o-cha
61 |  | General Prayut Chan-o-cha | 62 | 10 July 2019 | 1 September 2023 | Prayut Chan-o-cha
62 |  | Sutin Klungsang | 63 | 1 September 2023 | 3 September 2024 | Srettha Thavisin
63 |  | Phumtham Wechayachai | 64 | 3 September 2024 | Incumbent | Paetongtarn Shinawatra

### Timeline

[edit]

## See also

[edit]

* Ministry of Defence

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Barany, Zoltan (2012). The Soldier and the Changing State: Building Democratic Armies in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Princeton University Press. p. 193\. ISBN 9781400845491.
2. ^ "Sutin back in frame for defence minister". Bangkok post. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
3. ^ a b "เสนาบดีและรัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงกลาโหม" [List of Defence Ministers] (in Thai). Ministry of Defence (Thailand). Retrieved 29 April 2021.
4. ^ "The Monument of Krommaluang Prachaksinlapakhom". Tourism Authority of Thailand. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
5. ^ a b Royal Thai Army. ผู้บัญชาการทหารบกตั้งแต่อดีตถึงปัจจุบัน [Commander-in-Chiefs of the Royal Thai Army from past to present] (in Thai). Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
6. ^ Royal Thai Navy. นายพลเรือเอก พระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ กรมหลวงสิงหวิกรมเกรียงไกร [Admiral HRH Prince Vudhijaya Chalermlabha] (in Thai). Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2011.

## External links

[edit]

*     * List of ministers – Ministry of Defence (Thailand)