Pornpipat Benyasri

Pornpipat Benyasri is a Thai General who served as the Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces,^[1][2] following his appointment by King Vajiralongkorn in September 2018.^[3] He held various positions including as the commander of the National Defence College in 2006, became the Permanent Secretary of the Military Accounts in 2013, became the Deputy Chief of Staff, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in 2016, and became the Chief of Staff, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in 2017.^[4]

General Pornpipat Benyasri
พรพิพัฒน์ เบญญศรี
Pornpipat on Armed Forces Day 2020
Member of the Senate of Thailand
Ex officio 11 May 2019 – 30 September 2020
Succeeded by	Chalermpol Srisawat
Chiefs of Defence Forces
In office 1 October 2018 – 30 September 2020
Preceded by	Thanchaiyan Srisuwan
Succeeded by	Chalermpol Srisawat
Personal details
Born	(1960-03-17) 17 March 1960 (age 64) Bangkok, Thailand
Spouse	Jirapan Benyasri
Alma mater	Royal Military Academy National Defence College
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch/service	Royal Thai Army
Rank	General Admiral Air Chief Marshal
Commands	Chief of Defence Forces Chief of Staff, RTAF HQ Deputy Chief of Staff, RTAF HQ

Education and careers

Pornpipat studied in primary and secondary at Suankularb Wittayalai School and then attended the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School as a pre-cadet as a prerequisite for attending Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA). After graduating from Military school, he studied at Command and General Staff College and National Defence College.

Pornpipat started his military career at Royal Thai Army as Platoon Commander of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard. Then he moved to be a teacher at the Command and General Staff College, Royal Thai Army.

After moving to Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, Pornpipat previously held the position of Commander of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School,^[5] Head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Chief of Staff to the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

In his Royal career, he was on a Committee on Projects and Activities Commemoration on the auspicious occasion of the coronation of King Vajiralongkorn and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Organizing of the Royal barge procession in 2019.^[6][7]

Honours

received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

•  Thailand :
  • 2017 - Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
  • 2013 - Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
  • 1987 - Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 2nd Class 2nd Cat
  • 1992 - Border Service Medal
  • 1995 - Chakra Mala Medal

Foreign honours

•  U.S.A. :
  • Commander of the Legion of Merit (2019)

•  Malaysia :
  • The Most Gallant Order of Military Service (P.G.A.T.) (2019)

References

1. "Pornpipat downplays talk of coup". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
2. Limited, Alamy. "Stock Photo - The Royal Thai Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pornpipat Benyasri during a building dedication ceremony at the Thungsorhongsa School in support of Cobra Gold 2018 in Chachoengsao". Alamy. Retrieved 2020-02-20. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
3. "Thai military holds ceremony to swear allegiance to king". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
4. "Apirat becomes new army chief". Retrieved 19 February 2020.
5. "โรงเรียนเตรียมทหาร สามัคคี มีความรู้ คู่คุณธรรม".
6. "'ผบ.เหล่าทัพ' พอใจผลการฝึกซ้อมริ้วขบวนพระบรมราชอิสริยยศ".
7. "ซ้อม "ขบวนพยุหยาตราสถลมารคเลียบพระนคร" เดือน เม.ย.ซ้อมพื้นที่จริง". 28 March 2019.