List of Chiefs of Defence Forces (Thailand)

The Chief of Defence Forces, previously known as the Supreme Commander, (ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด) is the overall field commander of Royal Thai Armed Forces. He is also in charge of managing the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters (abbreviated as the RTARF HQ). 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). It is customary to appoint the chief of defence to four-star rank in all three branches in the Armed Forces. The current commander is General Pornpipat Benyasri since October 2018. Not to be confused with the ceremonial Head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces who is the constitutional Head of State and Monarch of Thailand. Since the Chief of Defence Forces of Thailand acts more like a coordinator between three military branches and he commands smaller military force than the Army, the Navy, of the Air Force has, the position is usually reserved for Thai army generals who does not be appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army.

Supreme Commanders (1941−2008)

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 * colspan=7|Temporary command during the Franco-Thai War


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 * colspan=7|Temporary command during the Pacific War


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 * colspan=7|Permanent command