Thai Military Reshuffles Top Command Posts
Thailand's military is reshuffling top command posts, with the Defence Council meeting August 20 to finalize senior appointments across all services before royal endorsement by August 28.
On August 17, reporters confirmed that the Defence Council will meet on August 20, chaired by Defence Minister General Adulya Boonthummaroj, with commanders from all services attending. Before the meeting, the general officer transfer board is expected to discuss senior appointment and transfers, finalizing the military reshuffle before submitting names to the Secretary-General of the Crown Property Bureau for verification. The Prime Minister will receive the approved list on August 28 for royal endorsement.
Key appointments under consideration include General Suran Petchananth, currently Deputy Defence Minister (Class 26), as the new Defence Ministry Permanent Secretary. For the Navy Commander position, there are three candidates: Admiral Naresh Wongtrakul, Deputy Navy Commander (Class 26); Admiral Thadawut Thatphitaksakul, Navy Chief of Staff (Class 27); and Admiral Korwit Chayaratchee, Commander of the Fleet (Class 26).
The Royal Thai Army is expected to promote General Nathapong Praengaew, currently Deputy Army Chief of Staff (Class 26), to Army Chief of Staff. General Chidchonok Nuchcaya, the current Army Chief of Staff (Class 26), will move up to Deputy Commander-in-Chief. Among army-level changes, General Nongrit Kampira, Deputy Army Commander (Class 26), will be promoted to Deputy Army Commander and is being considered for the 2027 Army Commander position.
Other officers under review for reassignment include General Amrit Bunsui (Class 27), Deputy Army Commander; General Chaiyapruek Duangpraphat, Army Chief of Staff (Class 26); General Worrayos Leungsuwan, First Army Region Commander (Class 28); General Saravut Chaisinith, Deputy Army Chief of Staff (Class 28); and General Theeranun Nanthkhwang, Chief of Army Information (Class 26).
For the Fourth Army Region, General Nortip Poynaork (Class 26) is expected to be promoted to General, with Brigadier General Chakrit Ujaratna, Deputy Fourth Army Region Commander (Special Forces Class 28), being promoted to replace him.
In the Royal Thai Air Force, General Praphat Sonjai, Deputy Air Commander, will retire and is expected to take a new position as director of the Thai-Cambodia Joint Information Center (JIC). General Rawin Thanansingha, Commander of the Air Operations Control and Execution Command (Class 26), is slated to take over the deputy commander role. Most recently, Thanansingha piloted an F-16 escorting the Prime Minister's aircraft during an inspection visit to Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
