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Thirachai Nakwanich
MPCh MWM
Thirachai Nakwanich MPCh MWM
ธีรชัย นาควานิช
	Thirachai in 2018
Privy Councillor
	In office; 6 December 2016 – 19 June 2018
Monarch	Vajiralongkorn
Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army
	In office; 1 October 2015 – 30 September 2016
Preceded by	Udomdej Sitabutr
Succeeded by	Chalermchai Sitthisart
Personal details
Born	15 November 1955 (age 69); Bangkok, Thailand
Spouse	Boonraksa Nakwanich
Children	2
Alma mater	Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy; National Defence College;
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch/service	Royal Thai Army
Years of service	1978–2016
Rank	General
Commands	Commander in Chief (Army)
Battles/wars	Communist insurgency in Thailand
Awards	Freemen Safeguarding Medal (First Class); Border Service Medal; Chakra Mala Medal; Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera);

General Thirachai Nakawanich PC (Thai: ธีรชัย นาควานิช, born 15 November 1955) is a Thai military officer who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army from 2015 to 2016.^[1] He succeeded Udomdej Sitabutr, with whom he has had a long-running feud, and whose preferred successor would have been Preecha Chan-ocha, brother of Prime Minister and NCPO chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.^[2] He was succeeded in 2016 by General Chalermchai Sitthisart upon reaching retirement age.

Education

Thirachai completed secondary education at Patumwan Demonstration School, Srinakharinwirot University. He then decided to go into a military career and proceeded to study at Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (Class 14) and Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (Class 25).^[3]

Military career

Thirachai started duty in the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Queen Sirikit's Guard knowns as Burapha Payak (Eastern tigers). In 2013, he appointed as commander of the 1st Army Area. Then in 2015 he was appointed as Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army inheriting the position from General Udomdej Sitabutr.

During 2014 Thai coup d'état, He was commander of the peacekeeping force of National Council for Peace and Order.^[4]

He used to go to work in the field in the three southern border provinces as the commander of the Narathiwat Special Task Force.^[5]

Royal career

In December 2016 he was appointed to the Privy Council by King Vajiralongkorn, but was relieved of his duties in June 2018 for unspecified reasons.^[6]