Thirachai Nakwanich
MPCh MWM
ธีรชัย นาควานิช
Thirachai in 2018
Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army
In office
1 October 2015 – 30 September 2016
Preceded byUdomdej Sitabutr
Succeeded byChalermchai Sitthisart
Personal details
Born (1955-11-15) 15 November 1955
Bangkok, Thailand
SpouseBoonraksa Nakwanich
Children2
Alma mater
Military service
Allegiance Thailand
Branch/service Royal Thai Army
Years of service1978–2016
Rank General
CommandsCommander in Chief (Army)
Battles/warsCommunist insurgency in Thailand
Awards

General Thirachai Nakawanich PC (Thai: ธีรชัย นาควานิช, born 15 November 1955) is a Thai military officer who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army from 2015 to 2016.[1] He succeeded Udomdej Sitabutr, with whom he has had a long-running feud, and whose preferred successor would have been Preecha Chan-ocha, brother of Prime Minister and NCPO chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.[2] He was succeeded in 2016 by General Chalermchai Sitthisart upon reaching retirement age.

Education

Thirachai completed secondary education at Patumwan Demonstration School, Srinakharinwirot University. He then decided to go into a military career and proceeded to study at Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (Class 14) and Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (Class 25).[3]

Military career

Thirachai started duty in the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Queen Sirikit's Guard knowns as Burapha Payak (Eastern tigers). In 2013, he appointed as commander of the 1st Army Area. Then in 2015 he was appointed as Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army inheriting the position from General Udomdej Sitabutr.

During 2014 Thai coup d'état, He was commander of the peacekeeping force of National Council for Peace and Order.[4]

He used to go to work in the field in the three southern border provinces as the commander of the Narathiwat Special Task Force.[5]

Royal career

In December 2016 he was appointed to the Privy Council by King Vajiralongkorn, but was relieved of his duties in June 2018 for unspecified reasons.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Nanuam, Wassana (25 August 2015). "Gen Thirachai named as new army chief". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  2. ↑ Nanuam, Wassana (6 October 2015). "Long-running rift between Theerachai, Udomdej flares". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  3. ↑ พล.อ. ธีรชัย นาควานิช
  4. ↑ เปิดประวัติ 3 "องคมนตรี" ใหม่
  5. ↑ "ธีรชัย-ปรีชา"ชิงดำ ผบ.ทบ.คนใหม่ จับตาจัดทัพ "5 เสือ" สานต่อภารกิจ
  6. ↑ "Ex-army chief General Thirachai relieved as privy councilor". Thai PBS. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
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