Minister of Defence
รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงกลาโหม
Standard of Defence Minister
Incumbent
Sutin Klungsang
since 1 September 2023
Ministry of Defence
Member ofCouncil of Ministers (Cabinet)
National Security Council
NominatorPrime Minister
AppointerThe King
Formation1782
First holder

This is 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

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

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
21
(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
22
(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
24
(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
24
(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
28
(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
29
(1)		 Lieutenant general Jira Wichitsongkhram
(1897–1979) 		13 14 October 1945 31 January 1946
28
(3)		 Lieutenant general Chit Munsilpa Sinadyodharaksa
(1896–1988) 		14 2 February 1946 24 March 1946 Khuang Aphaiwong
29
(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
30
(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
24
(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
32 Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn 27 23 September 1957 26 December 1957 Pote Sarasin
28 1 January 1958 20 October 1958 Thanom Kittikachorn
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
35
(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
44
(1)		 General Chatichai Choonhavan 45 4 August 1988 29 March 1990 Chatichai Choonhavan
45
(1)		 General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh 45 30 March 1990 3 August 1990 Chatichai Choonhavan
44
(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
45
(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
45
(4)		 General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh 54 17 February 2001 3 October 2002 Thaksin Shinawatra
51
(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 5 October 2005 Thaksin Shinawatra
51
(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
57
(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
57
(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 Incumbent Srettha Thavisin

Timeline

Sutin KlungsangPrayut Chan-o-chaYingluck ShinawatraSukampol SuwannathatYuthasak SasipraphaPrawit WongsuwonSomchai WongsawatSamak SundaravejThammarak Isarangkura na AyudhayaChuan LeekpaiSuchinda KraprayoonChavalit YongchaiyudhChatichai ChoonhavanPanieng KarntaratPrem TinsulanondaKriangsak ChamananSangad ChaloryuSeni PramojKris AdireksarnPramarn AdireksarnDawee ChullasapyaThanom KittikachornSarit ThanaratPhichit KriangsakphichitPlaek PhibunsongkhramPhraya PhahonphonphayuhasenaVudhijaya ChalermlabhaBoworadetParibatra SukhumbandhuChaophraya Bodindechanuchit (Yaem na Nakhon)Chaophraya Bodindechanuchit (Arun Chatrakul)Chirapravati VoradejBhanurangsi SavangwongseNarisara NuwattiwongSomdet Chaophraya Borom Maha Sri SuriwongsePrayurawongseChaophraya Mahasena (Pli)

See also

References

  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.

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