This is a profile of Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen, nicknamed the “Warrior of Lower Isan,” who has risen from Deputy Minister of Defense in the previous government to become Minister of Defense.
On 14 March 2026, attention focused on who would be appointed the next Minister of Defense in the second Anutin cabinet. Rumors circulated that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul might personally oversee the ministry amid security concerns along the Thailand-Cambodia border and conflicts in the Middle East. However, in the final stage, the name “Big Dul” emerged clearly. It was confirmed that Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen, former Commander of the 2nd Army Area and current Deputy Minister of Defense in the first Anutin cabinet, would be appointed Minister of Defense in the second Anutin cabinet.
Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen, known as “Big Dul,” was born on 2 June 1964. He is currently 61 years old and a native of Buriram province. He is the son of Mr. Udom Boonthamcharoen and the late Mrs. Thongyu Boonthamcharoen, who passed away in 2018. Her funeral was presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at Wat Klang (Royal Monastery) in Buriram province.
In his personal life, he is married to Mrs. Supit Boonthamcharoen, former president of the Army Wives Association, 2nd Army Area branch. She has been prominent in social welfare work and in supporting military families in the Lower Isan region. They have two children.
Lieutenant General Adul graduated from the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, Class 26, and the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, Class 37. He also graduated from the National Defence College, Class 61, the same class as Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
He began his military service in the Lower Isan region (Surin-Buriram). A key position that established his reputation was as Commander of the 26th Ranger Regiment, based at Pak Thong Chai and Bodindecha Camps. This unit was a main force guarding the Thailand-Cambodia border. He earned high trust in managing local populations and intelligence in the border area.
Between 2008 and 2011, during the Thailand-Cambodia border conflicts, he served as Commander of the 234th Infantry Battalion and then Deputy Commander of the 23rd Infantry Regiment. He led troops to secure critical points around the Preah Vihear Temple and the Ta Kwai-Ta Muean Thom temples. He is regarded as one of the officers most deeply knowledgeable of the geography and tactics in this area. He later advanced to Commander of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, a key unit in Lower Isan; Commander of the 6th Infantry Division; and Commander of the Suranaree Task Force, overseeing security along the entire Lower Isan border. He then rose to Deputy Commander of the 2nd Army Area at the general staff level.
In 2023, he was appointed Commander of the 2nd Army Area, responsible for all 20 provinces in the Northeast. His policies focused on intercepting drug trafficking along the Mekong River and fostering relations with neighboring countries while safeguarding sovereignty. Lieutenant General Adul is respected by the “Black Warriors,” the majority of troops guarding the border. His nickname, “Warrior of Lower Isan,” reflects his long military career predominantly in the Lower Isan region, especially along the Thailand-Cambodia border.
After retiring from the military, Lieutenant General Adul was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense in the first Anutin cabinet. He was assigned to oversee border security and military strategic affairs, leveraging his deep understanding of Thailand-Cambodia issues in both operational and negotiation aspects. When the second Anutin cabinet was formed, his name was prominent as a candidate for Minister of Defense. Sources noted that in addition to being a classmate of Prime Minister Anutin at the National Defence College, he also has long-standing close ties to the “Buriram Big House” faction, as they share the same home province.
