Profile of Police Lieutenant General Samran Nuanma, the youngest Deputy Commissioner General, spotlighting his potential future as the top position in the Royal Thai Police as a candidate for the 16th Commissioner.
A royal decree appointed 249 police generals effective from 1 Oct 2025. Among those closely watched is “Big Ran” Police Lieutenant General Samran Nuanma, the youngest candidate who will retire in 2033, while the current 15th Commissioner, Police General Kittirat Phanphet, is set to retire in 2026. This appointment serves as an indicator for the future Commissioner position.
Police Lieutenant General Samran Nuanma currently serves as Assistant Commissioner General, is a distinguished committee member of the Special Case Committee, and a central committee member of the Football Association of Thailand.
Born in Phetchaburi Province, Samran is an alumnus of the 34th class of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and the 50th class of the Royal Police Cadet Academy.
He began his police career in 1997 as an investigator at Phra Khanong Metropolitan Police Station. On 1 Oct 2021, he was appointed Metropolitan Police Commissioner and was promoted to Police Lieutenant General by royal decree.
On 1 Oct 2022, he became Assistant Commissioner General. Later, on 6 Oct 2022, he was among the officers who accompanied Police Generals Damrongsak Kitiparaporn and Surachate Hakparn to inspect the mass shooting incident in Nong Bua Lamphu Province in 2022.
His service record is as follows:
2022: Assistant Commissioner General
2021: Metropolitan Police Commissioner
2020: Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner
2018: Commander of Patrol and Special Operations Division
2016: Deputy Commander of Patrol and Special Operations Division
2014: Superintendent of Patrol Division, Patrol and Special Operations Command
2012: Superintendent of Don Mueang Metropolitan Police Station
2011: Deputy Superintendent of Patrol Division, Patrol and Special Operations Command
2009: Deputy Superintendent of Investigation 3, Investigation Division, Metropolitan Police Bureau
2007: Crime Prevention Inspector, Bang Na Metropolitan Police Station
2005: Patrol Inspector 2, Division 1, Special Operations Command
2004: Patrol Inspector 2, Patrol Division, Patrol and Special Operations Command
2003: Deputy Investigation Inspector, Thonglor Metropolitan Police Station
1997: Deputy Investigation Inspector, Phra Khanong Metropolitan Police Station
In 2022, he began his tenure as Assistant Commissioner General.
In 2024, he was royally appointed Deputy Commissioner General.
On 5 Sep 2025, the Royal Gazette published the Prime Minister’s Office announcement regarding the appointment of 249 police officers to various posts effective from 1 Oct 2025 by royal command.
Among them, Police General Thatchai Pitanilapabutr, National Police Inspector General, was appointed Deputy Commissioner General; Police Lieutenant General Samran Nuanma, Assistant Commissioner General, was appointed Deputy Commissioner General; and Police Lieutenant General Itthipol Acharayapradit, Deputy National Police Inspector General, was appointed National Police Inspector General.
Also appointed were Police Lieutenant General Thanapon Srisopa, Deputy National Police Inspector General; Police Lieutenant General Jirapop Puridej, Central Investigation Commander; Police Lieutenant General Yingyos Thepjumnong, Commander of Provincial Police Region 2; Police Lieutenant General Surapong Thanomjit, Commander of Provincial Police Region 8; Police Lieutenant General Anucha Romyanant, Commander of the Police Commission Office; and Police Lieutenant General Udom Yomjaroen, Commander of the Police Security Division, appointed Assistant Commissioner General.
Police Lieutenant General Trairong Phiwpan, Commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, and Police Lieutenant General Naiwat Phademchit, Commander of Provincial Police Region 7, were appointed Deputy National Police Inspector Generals.
Simultaneously, royal commands granted police general ranks to 100 officers who have performed duties commendably and beneficially for the service.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai received the royal command announcement on 4 Sep 2025.
He is considered another candidate vying for the 16th Royal Thai Police Commissioner position.