The Chief of Defence Forces, previously known as the Supreme Commander, ( th, 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 The Highest Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces ( th, จอมทัพไทย; ) is a position vested in the Thai monarch, who as sovereign and head of state is the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. The position is only ...

who is the constitutional Head of State and

Monarch of Thailand The monarchy of Thailand (whose monarch is referred to as the king of Thailand; th, พระมหากษัตริย์ไทย, or historically, king of Siam; th, พระมหากษัตริย์สยาม) refers to the c ...

. Prior to 1960 the post was an ad hoc creation by

Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

Plaek Phibunsongkhram Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram ( th, แปลก พิบูลสงคราม ; alternatively transcribed as ''Pibulsongkram'' or ''Pibulsonggram''; 14 July 1897 – 11 June 1964), locally known as Marshal P. ( th, จอมพล � ...

, 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 The prime minister of Thailand ( th, นายกรัฐมนตรี, , ; literally 'chief minister of state') is the head of government of Thailand. The prime minister is also the chair of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed si ...

. 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 The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army ( th, ผู้บัญชาการทหารบก) is headquartered in Bangkok. The commander of the Royal Thai Army is a powerful position that has at times been the springboard to the prem ...

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 Chalermpol Srisawat since October 2020.

List of chiefs

Supreme Commanders (1941−2008)

, -style="text-align:center;" , colspan=7, ''Temporary command during the Franco-Thai War'' , - , -style="text-align:center;" , colspan=7, ''Temporary command during the

Pacific War The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War, was the theater of World War II that was fought in Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and Oceania. It was geographically the largest theater of the war, including the vast ...

'' , - , -style="text-align:center;" , colspan=7, ''Permanent command'' , -

Chiefs of Defence Forces (2008−present)

References

Former commander (Thai)
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Chiefs Of Defence Forces (Thailand) Military of Thailand Chiefs of Defence Thailand

List of chiefs

Supreme Commanders (1941−2008)

Chiefs of Defence Forces (2008−present)

See also

References