The high-level military reshuffle received royal endorsement yesterday.
In the reshuffle, which involves 861 senior military figures moving to different posts, deputy permanent secretary for defence Gen Nipat Thonglek has become the new defence permanent secretary, as expected, despite his tenure running until 2016.
He graduated from Class 14 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (AFAPS).
Gen Nipat was backed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as the successor of Gen Thanongsak Apirakyothin, who will retire at the end of this month.
Several army figures with more seniority than him seem to be disappointed by the reshuffle. They include deputy permanent secretary to defence Gen ML Prasopchai Kasemsant (Class 13), who was transferred as chief adviser for defence, while assistant navy chief Adm Polwat Sirodom (Class 13) missed a navy chief post and was transferred as deputy permanent secretary for defence, the post that army special adviser Gen Surasak Kanchanarat (Class 12) was also appointed to.
Meanwhile, Adm Amornthep Na Bangchang, chief adviser to the navy chief, was appointed as deputy supreme commander.
Adm Amornthep was mentioned as a possible navy chief during a controversially recorded conversation allegedly between ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Deputy Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa.
The person to succeed navy chief Adm Surasak Rounroengrom is deputy navy chief Adm Narong Pipatanasai.
Assistant army chief Gen Sirichai Ditakul (Class 13) was appointed as joint chief-of-staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters so he has missed an opportunity to be a candidate for new army chief next year when Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha retires.
AFAPS commander Maj Gen Boonchu Kertchoke, who has strong expertise in border affairs, was appointed as the director of the Border Affairs Department and promoted to lieutenant-general.
Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has also rearranged the list of his key aides in the reshuffle.
Army chief-of-staff Gen Udomdet Sitabutra has become a deputy army chief who is expected to succeed Gen Prayuth when he retires next year.
Gen Chatchai Sarikalaya, an army specialist, and First Army commander Lt Gen Phaibul Khumchaya, both emerged as assistant army chiefs.
Lt Gen Aksara Kerdphol, a deputy army chief-of-staff, has been promoted to the army chief-of-staff's position.