List of defence ministers of Thailand

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
รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงกลาโหม
Standard of Defence Minister
Incumbent Natthaphon Narkphanit Acting  since 30 June 2025
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)

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

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
		Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn (1911–2004)	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
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	11 March 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	3 September 2024	Srettha Thavisin
63		Phumtham Wechayachai	64	3 September 2024	30 June 2025	Paetongtarn Shinawatra

Timeline

See also

• Ministry of Defence