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. 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.
Minister of Defence of Siam List of Siamese Ministers of Defense (, Senabodi Kalahom) No.(term) Portrait Defence Minister Took office Left office 12 General Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong 1894 1899 13 Major General Prince Prachaksinlapakhom 1899 1901 14 Field Marshal Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse 1901 1910 15 Field Marshal Prince Chirapravati Voradej 11 December 1910 4 February 1913 16 Field Marshal Chaophraya Bodindechanuchit (Arun Chatrakul) 4 February 1913 26 August 1921 17 General Chaophraya Bodindechanuchit (Yam Na Nakhon) 26 August 1921 4 August 1926 18 Field Marshal Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu 24 August 1926 31 March 1928 19 General Prince Boworadej 1 April 1928 19 June 1931 20 Admiral Prince Vudhijaya Chalermlabha 8 November 1931 19 June 1932 21 Vice Admiral Phraya Ratchawangsan (Sri Kamalanavin) 12 August 1932 10 December 1932
Minister of Defence of Thailand List of ministers of defence of Thailand (Thai: รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงกลาโหม Ratthamontri Wakarn Kasuang Kalahom)
No.(term) Portrait Defence Minister Branch Cabinet Took office Left office Prime minister 21(1,2) Vice Admiral Phraya Ratchawangsan (Sri Kamalanavin) Royal Thai Navy 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) Royal Thai Army 4 21 June 1933 16 December 1933 Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena 5 16 December 1933 1 April 1934 Colonel Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena Royal Thai Army 5 1 April 1934 22 September 1934 Major General Plaek Phibunsongkhram Royal Thai Army 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 Lieutenant General Mangkorn Phromyothi Royal Thai Army 9 19 August 1941 15 December 1941 Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram Royal Thai Army 10 10 March 1942 15 November 1943 10 10 March 1942 15 November 1943 Lieutenant General Phichit Kriangsakphichit Royal Thai Army 10 15 November 1943 1 August 1944 Vice-Admiral Sindhu Kamalanavin Royal Thai Navy 11 2 August 1944 31 August 1945 Khuang Aphaiwong 28(1,2) Lieutenant General Chit Munsilpa Sinadyodharaksa Royal Thai Army 12 31 August 1945 17 September 1945 Tawee Boonyaket 13 19 September 1945 14 October 1945 Seni Pramoj 29(1) Lieutenant General Jira Wichitsongkhram Royal Thai Army 13 14 October 1945 31 January 1946 28(3) Lieutenant General Chit Munsilpa Sinadyodharaksa Royal Thai Army 14 2 February 1946 24 March 1946 Khuang Aphaiwong 29(2-5) Lieutenant General Jira Wichitsongkhram Royal Thai Army 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 Royal Thai Army 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 Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram Royal Thai Army 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 Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat Royal Thai Army 26 31 March 1957 16 September 1957 32 Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn Royal Thai Army 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 Royal Thai Air Force 33 16 October 1973 22 May 1974 Sanya Dharmasakti 34 General Kruyn Sutathanin Royal Thai Army 34 30 May 1974 22 May 1975 35 General Tawich Seneewong na Ayutthaya Royal Thai Army 35 15 February 1975 13 March 1975 Seni Pramoj Major General Pramarn Adireksarn Royal Thai Army 36 17 March 1975 12 January 1976 Kukrit Pramoj 37 General Kris Sivara Royal Thai Army 37 21 April 1976 28 April 1976 Seni Pramoj 35(2) General Tawich Seneewong na Ayutthaya Royal Thai Army 28 April 1976 24 August 1976 Seni Pramoj Civilian 27 August 1976 23 September 1976 39 Admiral Sangad Chaloryu Royal Thai Navy 38 5 October 1976 6 October 1976 39 22 October 1976 20 October 1977 Thanin Kraivichien 40 General Lek Neawmalee Royal Thai Army 40 12 November 1977 11 August 1977 Kriangsak Chamanan 41 General Kriangsak Chamanan Royal Thai Army 11 August 1977 11 May 1979 42 General Prem Tinsulanonda Royal Thai Army 41 24 May 1979 3 March 1980 42 21 March 1980 19 March 1983 Prem Tinsulanonda 43 7 May 1983 5 August 1986 43 Air Chief Marshal Panieng Karntarat Royal Thai Air Force 44 11 August 1986 3 August 1988 General Chatichai Choonhavan Royal Thai Army 45 4 August 1988 29 March 1990 Chatichai Choonhavan 45(1) General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Royal Thai Army 30 March 1990 21 June 1990 General Chatichai Choonhavan Royal Thai Army 21 June 1990 9 December 1990 46 14 December 1990 23 February 1991 46 Admiral Praphat Kritsanajun Royal Thai Navy 47 6 March 1991 22 March 1992 Anand Panyarachun 47 General Suchinda Kraprayoon Royal Thai Army 48 17 April 1992 24 May 1992 Suchinda Kraprayoon 48 General Banjob Bunnag Royal Thai Army 49 18 June 1992 23 September 1992 Anand Panyarachun 49 General Vijit Sukmak Royal Thai Army 50 29 September 1992 13 July 1995 Chuan Leekpai 45(2,3) General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Royal Thai Army 51 13 July 1995 24 November 1996 Banharn Silpa-archa 52 29 November 1996 8 September 1997 Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Chuan Leekpai Civilian 53 14 September 1997 5 February 2001 Chuan Leekpai General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Royal Thai Army 54 17 February 2001 3 October 2002 Thaksin Shinawatra General Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya Royal Thai Army 3 October 2002 9 March 2004 General Chettha Thanajaro Royal Thai Army 10 March 2004 5 October 2004 53 General Sampan Boonyanan Royal Thai Army 6 October 2004 11 March 2005 General Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya Royal Thai Army 55 11 March 2005 19 September 2006 54 General Boonrod Somthat Royal Thai Army 56 9 October 2006 5 February 2008 Surayud Chulanont Samak Sundaravej Civilian 57 6 February 2008 9 September 2008 Samak Sundaravej Somchai Wongsawat Civilian 58 24 September 2008 2 December 2008 Somchai Wongsawat 57(1) General Prawit Wongsuwan Royal Thai Army 59 20 December 2008 9 August 2011 Abhisit Vejjajiva General Yuthasak Sasiprapha Royal Thai Army 60 9 August 2011 18 January 2012 Yingluck Shinawatra Air Chief Marshal Sukampol Suwannathat Royal Thai Air Force 18 January 2012 30 June 2013 Yingluck Shinawatra Civilian 30 June 2013 7 May 2014 57(2) General Prawit Wongsuwan Royal Thai Army 61 30 August 2014 10 July 2019 Prayut Chan-o-cha 61 General Prayut Chan-o-cha Royal Thai Army 62 10 July 2019 1 September 2023 Sutin Klungsang Civilian 63 1 September 2023 3 September 2024 Srettha Thavisin Phumtham Wechayachai Civilian 64 3 September 2024 30 June 2025 Paetongtarn Shinawatra — General Natthaphon Narkphanit Royal Thai Army 30 June 2025 19 September 2025 64 65 19 September 2025 30 March 2026 Anutin Charnvirakul Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen Royal Thai Army 66 30 March 2026 Incumbent
Timeline
See also Ministry of Defence
References
External links List of ministers – Ministry of Defence (Thailand)