The Royal Thai Police Chief has scheduled a screening board meeting on 23 Aug to discuss the senior police promotion list. Notably, 'Big Tao' will move to oversee the blue zone as Commander of Region 3. 'Nopasil,' a key operator, and 'Big Ran,' the prospective Police Chief, are reassigned as Commander of the Immigration Bureau. Tinakorn Rangmat, a key case handler, is promoted as the new Cyber Police Commander.
On 20 August 2026 at the Royal Thai Police headquarters, Police Lieutenant General Chaitpojanat Suwannarak, Commander of the Operations Coordination Division, issued a memorandum dated 19 August addressed to Police Commanders or equivalent ranks, heads of units outside the Office of the Police Commissioner, and heads of units under the Office of the Police Commissioner concerning preparation to respond to inquiries about police personnel information.
The memorandum stated that Police General Kittirat Punpetch, Police Chief and chairman of the Police Officer Appointment Screening Board, has scheduled a meeting to select police officers for positions from Assistant Commissioner down to Provincial Police Chief for the 2026 term. The meeting is set for Sunday, 23 August 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m., at the Police Operations Center Conference Room, 20th floor, Building 1, Royal Thai Police Headquarters.
The Operations Coordination Division has instructed relevant units to prepare comprehensive data on police officers, including lists of those suitable for promotion, those not yet suitable, appointment proposals, performance results, and other important information to ensure thorough responses to inquiries during the meeting.
Reports indicate this meeting is a crucial step in finalizing the "2026 Police General Promotion List," especially for positions at Provincial Police Chief level and above. There are 156 vacancies: 3 Deputy Commissioner positions, 6 Assistant Commissioner positions, 19 Regional Commander positions, 41 Deputy Regional Commander positions, and 94 Provincial Police Chief positions.
For the 3 Deputy Commissioner vacancies, several Assistant Commissioners are being promoted by seniority, including Police Lieutenant General Nopawat Arayangkur (Assistant Commissioner), Police Lieutenant General Thanapon Srisopa (Deputy Chief of the Royal Thai Police Office), and Police Lieutenant General Kritsada Surachatepong (Assistant Commissioner).
There are 6 Assistant Commissioner vacancies, with Regional Commanders being promoted by seniority: Police Lieutenant General Santi Chainiramai (Commander of Region 4), Police Lieutenant General Nithithorn Jintakanon (Commander of Special Operations Division), Police Lieutenant General Achayon Kraithong (Commander of Narcotics Suppression Division), Police Lieutenant General Kritsakorn Pleethanyawong (Commander of Special Branch), Police Lieutenant General Phisit Tanprasert (Commander of Region 7), and Police Lieutenant General Kritthaphon Yeesakorn (Commander of Region 5).
At the Regional Commander level, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom (Commander of Metropolitan Police Bureau), Class 46 Police Cadet Academy, remains in position; Police Lieutenant General Natsak Chawanasai (Commander of Investigation Bureau), Class 47, remains; Police Lieutenant General Rungroj Thakoorpunyasiri (Commander of Border Patrol Police), Class 48, remains; Police Lieutenant General Yoswin Hansamon (Commander of Special Branch), Class 45, remains; Police Lieutenant General Piyawat Chalermsri (Commander of Region 9), remains; Police Lieutenant General Sakdrape Preewpanich (Commander of Police Cadet Academy), Class 43, remains; Police Lieutenant General Nopasil Poolsawat (Commander attached to the Police Commissioner’s Office), Class 46, key operator; Police General Samran Nuanma, the prospective Police Chief, is reassigned as Commander of the Immigration Bureau.
Police Lieutenant General Naradet Thiprak, Commander attached to the Police Commissioner’s Office, Class 41 and peer of Police General Kittirat, is promoted as Commander of Region 1. Police Major General Wasan Techakakrasem, Deputy Commander of Metropolitan Police Bureau, Class 46 and close associate of Police General Kittirat, is promoted as Commander of Region 2. Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commander of Investigation Bureau, Class 45, originally slated for promotion as Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, is reassigned as Commander of Region 3, overseeing the key blue zone.
Police Major General Nopkao Somanas, Deputy Commander of Region 4, Class 48, is promoted as Commander of Region 4. Police Major General Prachaya Prasansuk, Deputy Commander of Immigration Bureau, Class 46, is promoted as Commander of Region 5. Police Major General Worawat Mali, Deputy Commander of Region 6, Class 44, is promoted as Commander of Region 6. Police Lieutenant General Siratchaket Kruwattanaset, Royal Police Cadet (rank 8), is moving positively to become Commander of Region 7, overseeing Phetchaburi province.
Police Lieutenant General Wimon Pitakburapha, Commander of the Special Operations Division, Class 45, is reassigned as Commander of Region 8. Police Lieutenant General Phumin Pumphanmuang, Commander attached to the Police Commissioner’s Office, Class 52, is reassigned as Commander of Narcotics Suppression Division. Police Lieutenant General Prutthipong Prayursiri, Commander of Region 3, Class 42, is reassigned as Royal Police Cadet (rank 8). Police Major General Pongsayam Meekhonthong, Deputy Commander of Tourist Police Bureau, Class 42, former adjutant to Police General San Sarutanont, former Police Chief, is promoted as Commander of Tourist Police Bureau.
Police Major General Tinakorn Rangmat, Deputy Commander of the Cyber Police Division, Class 46, key case handler, is promoted as Commander of the Cyber Police Division. Police Major General Phithak Uthaitham, Deputy Commander attached to the Police Commissioner’s Office, Class 48, who received compensation from the Police Commission, is promoted as Commander of the Special Branch Division. Police Major General Wiwat Kamchamnarn, Deputy Commander of the Cyber Police Division, Class 45, also compensated by the Police Commission, is promoted as Commander of the Technology and Communications Division. Police Major General Preeda Sathaworn, Deputy Commander of the Operations Coordination Division, is promoted as Commander of the Operations Coordination Division. Police Major General Phanthana Nuchanart, Deputy Commander of Immigration Bureau, Class 48, is promoted as Commander attached to the Police Commissioner’s Office. Police Major General Somboon Tiankhao, Deputy Commander of Narcotics Suppression Division, Class 50, is promoted as Commander attached to the Police Commissioner’s Office. Police Major General Weeraphat Siwaphaet, Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Division, is promoted as Commander of the Special Operations Division.