31 Facts About Apirat Kongsompong

Apirat Kongsompong is a Thai military officer who was the commander in chief of the Royal Thai Army from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2020.

Apirat Kongsompong serves as the Vice-Chamberlain of the Royal Household Bureau and the deputy director of the Crown Property Bureau from 2020 to 2024.

Apirat Kongsompong held many important positions throughout his career including chairman of the board of directors of Government Lottery Office, Independent Director at Bangchak Petroleum Public Co.

Apirat Kongsompong is the eldest son of General Sunthorn Kongsompong, and Colonel Khunying Orachorn Kongsompong.

Apirat Kongsompong has a younger brother, Major General Nattaporn Kongsompong.

Apirat Kongsompong later attended the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and went on to attend Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy where he graduated in 1985.

General Apirat Kongsompong received a commission as an army officer upon graduation from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1985.

Apirat Kongsompong served as a pilot at the Army Aviation Center at the beginning of his military career.

Apirat Kongsompong completed the AH-1H Pilot Training Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama, USA.

Apirat Kongsompong is a graduate of Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA.

In October 1990, Apirat Kongsompong was appointed Assistant Logistics Officer at the Royal Thai Army Defense Attache Office in Washington DC.

General Apirat Kongsompong commanded 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard in Bangkok.

Apirat Kongsompong went on to command 11th Infantry Regiment King's Guard.

Apirat Kongsompong served as the Commanding General of 11th Infantry Division in Chachoengsao Province.

Apirat Kongsompong went on to serve as the Commanding General of 15th Military Circle in Petchaburi Province.

In 2016, General Apirat Kongsompong was appointed the Commanding General of the 1st Army Area.

Apirat Kongsompong was promoted to Assistant Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army in 2017.

General Apirat Kongsompong was appointed the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army in 2018 which he would command the Royal Thai Army until his retirement in September 2020.

Apirat Kongsompong served as the Commander of Task Force 14 which conducted counter-insurgency operations in Yala Province in 2004.

Apirat Kongsompong is associated with the military clique Wong Thewan, in turn associated with the 1st Division, the King's Guard.

Barely a month into his tenure as army chief, Apirat Kongsompong created a media firestorm with his comments on the necessity for military intervention in Thai politics should turmoil surface.

Apirat Kongsompong's comments sparked criticism online for being a partisan bureaucrat.

Apirat Kongsompong provided the urgent policy to detect and solve the difficulty on the welfare for the officer of Royal Thai Army.

Apirat Kongsompong founded the direct call centre for officers who has obstacles to provide confidential information to Commander in chief directly.

Apirat Kongsompong established the investigation committee to examine the source of obstacle and find the solution and to include provide remedy for the victim.

When General Apirat Kongsompong took the office of the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army in 2018, he was appointed the Secretary of the National Council for Peace and Order.

Apart from military and political positions, General Apirat Kongsompong held several important positions in the government and private sectors.

In 2014, General Apirat Kongsompong was appointed to the board of directors of Bangchak Corporation as an independent director with authorized signature.

General Apirat Kongsompong served as a director on the board of directors of TMBThanachart Bank Public Company Limited.

General Apirat Kongsompong was retired from his military position on 30 September 2020.

General Apirat is married to Associate Professor Dr Kritika Kongsompong, a lecturer at SASIN and the former host of the Weakest Link show on Channel 3 Thailand.