Police Chief Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet has called a screening board meeting to discuss the list of senior police generals on 23 August 2026. Senior officers known as Big De, Big Keng, and Big Suea are set to be promoted to Deputy National Police Chief. Lt. Gen. Athicha Paoin, head of the Police Forensic Science Division and a 44th class graduate of the Police Cadet Academy, part of Pol. Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew's team, former National Police Chief and Minister of Labor, is gaining momentum. He is expected to take command of the blue zone as Commander of Region 3, overseeing Lower Northeastern Thailand. Meanwhile, Big Tao is promoted to Commander at the Office of the National Police Chief.
On 22 August 2026, at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, it was reported that Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet, National Police Chief and chairman of the police appointment screening board, has scheduled a meeting to select police officers for positions ranging from Assistant National Police Chief to Provincial Police Commander across the country. The meeting is set for 23 August at 10:00 a.m. on the 20th floor of the Police Headquarters. This year, there are 156 vacancies at the levels of Deputy National Police Chief and Provincial Police Commander: 3 vacancies for Deputy National Police Chief, 6 for Assistant National Police Chief, 19 for Provincial Police Commander, 41 for Deputy Provincial Police Commander, and 94 for Provincial Police Commanders.
There are three vacancies for Deputy National Police Chief. The Assistant National Police Chiefs are expected to be promoted according to seniority: Pol. Lt. Gen. Nopawat Arayangkul, Assistant National Police Chief; Pol. Lt. Gen. Thanapon Srisopa, Deputy Director of the Office of the Commissioner-General; and Pol. Lt. Gen. Krisada Surachetphong, Assistant National Police Chief.
At the Assistant National Police Chief level, there are six vacancies. Promotions are expected from Provincial Police Commanders according to seniority: Pol. Lt. Gen. Santi Chainiramai, Commander of Region 4; Pol. Lt. Gen. Nitithorn Jintakanon, Commander of the Police Education Division; Pol. Lt. Gen. Achayon Kraithong, Commander of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau; Pol. Lt. Gen. Krisakorn Pleethanyawong, Commander of the Special Operations Bureau; Pol. Lt. Gen. Phisit Tanprasert, Commander of Region 7; and Pol. Lt. Gen. Kritthaphon Yisakorn, Commander of Region 5.
At the Provincial Police Commander level, most remain in their current posts: Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom, Commander of Metropolitan Police Bureau, a 46th class Police Cadet Academy graduate; Pol. Lt. Gen. Natthasak Chaowanachai, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, class 47; Pol. Lt. Gen. Rungroj Thakupunyasiri, Commander of the Border Patrol Police, class 48; Pol. Lt. Gen. Yoswin Hansamon, Commander of the Special Investigation Division, class 45; Pol. Lt. Gen. Piyawat Chalermsri, Commander of Region 9; Pol. Lt. Gen. Sakrapee Priawpanich, Commander of the Police Cadet Academy, class 43—all maintaining their current positions.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Noppasin Poolsawat, Commander at the Office of the National Police Chief, class 46, a key operative in Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma’s team, the incoming National Police Chief, has been transferred to become Commander of the Immigration Bureau. Pol. Lt. Gen. Naradet Thiprak, Commander at the Office of the National Police Chief and classmate (41st) of Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet, has been promoted to Commander of Region 1. Pol. Maj. Gen. Wasan Techakakrasem, Deputy Commander of Metropolitan Police Bureau and class 46, a key operative in the Anti-Scammer Operation Center under Pol. Lt. Gen. Thana Chuwong, Deputy National Police Chief, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Jiraphop Puridet, Assistant National Police Chief, has been promoted to Commander of Region 2.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Athicha Paoin, head of the Police Forensic Science Division and a 44th class Police Cadet Academy graduate from the team of Pol. Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, former National Police Chief and Minister of Labor, is advancing to become Commander of Region 3. Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppakao Somnat, Deputy Commander of Region 4 and a strong 48th class officer, is promoted to Commander of Region 4. Pol. Maj. Gen. Prachya Prasansuk, Deputy Commander of the Immigration Bureau and a 46th class operative, is promoted to Commander of Region 5. Pol. Maj. Gen. Worawat Mali, Deputy Commander of Region 6 and a 44th class officer, is promoted to Commander of Region 6.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Sirathet Kruwatset, police lieutenant colonel (level 8), with strong backing, is transferred to become Commander of Region 7. Pol. Lt. Gen. Wimon Pitakburapa, Commander of the Special Operations Division and a 45th class Police Cadet Academy graduate, is transferred to become Commander of Region 8. Pol. Lt. Gen. Phumin Phumpanmuang, Commander at the Office of the National Police Chief and a 52nd class graduate, is transferred to become Commander of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau. Pol. Maj. Gen. Pongsayam Meekhanthong, Deputy Commander of the Tourist Police Bureau and a 42nd class graduate who formerly served as aide to Pol. Gen. San Sarutanon, former National Police Chief, is promoted to Commander of the Tourist Police Bureau. Pol. Maj. Gen. Thinkorn Rangmat, Deputy Commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division and a 46th class operative at the Police Cyber Taskforce, is promoted to Commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Phitak Uthayatham, Deputy Commander at the Office of the National Police Chief, a 48th class officer and key operative in combating foreign nominee companies under Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma, the incoming National Police Chief, who received compensation from the police welfare fund, is promoted to Commander of the Crime Suppression Bureau. Pol. Maj. Gen. Wiwat Khamchamnarn, Deputy Commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division and a 45th class graduate, also compensated by the police welfare fund, is promoted to Commander at the Office of the National Police Chief. Pol. Maj. Gen. Preeda Sathaworn, Deputy Commander of the Special Investigation Division, is promoted to Commander of the Special Investigation Division.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Pantana Nuchanart, Deputy Commander of the Immigration Bureau, a 48th class officer specializing in investigation, is promoted to Commander of the Special Technology Crime Suppression Division. Pol. Maj. Gen. Sombun Thiankaew, Deputy Commander of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau and a 50th class officer specializing in narcotics operations, is promoted to Commander at the Office of the National Police Chief. Pol. Maj. Gen. Weeraphat Siwaphet, Deputy Commander of the Special Investigation Division, is promoted to Commander of the Special Investigation Division. Pol. Lt. Gen. Pruthipong Prayursiri, Commander of Region 3 and a 42nd class graduate, has been reassigned as head of police lieutenant colonel (level 8). Pol. Maj. Gen. Chomchawin Purathananon, Deputy Commander of Region 7 and a 47th class operative, is promoted to Commander of the Provincial Police Region.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Jarungkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, is promoted to Commander at the Office of the National Police Chief.