Songwit Noonphukdi

Songwit Noonpakdee is a Thai military general. He served as Chief of Defence Forces, the highest-ranking officer and the overall professional head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2025. Prior to his assumption to the post, Songwit formerly served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Forces and as commander of the 1st Division, King's Guard, and the 11th King Close Bodyguard Regiment.

Early life and education Songwit was born in Mueang Ratchaburi district at Ratchaburi province on 7 June 1965 and was born from a military family. His father, General Isarapong Noonpakdee, is a military officer who held various commands, which includes the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, and later became Minister of Interior under then-Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun and his mother is Sumana Nunphakdee. His grandfather was Lt. Gen. Chat Noonpakdee, who formerly served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, and his aunt is Wannee Noonpakdee, the wife of former Prime Minister General Suchinda Kraprayoon. His other uncles include former General Chainarong Noonpakdee, who once served as the Deputy Chief of the Defence Forces; and former General Thaweesak Noonpakdee, who once served as former chairman of the board of the Navanakorn Public Company Limited.

Songwit later entered the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and graduated as part of the Class 24 batch of 1985. Songwit later entered the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy yet wasn't able to complete his studies and later studied at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, and also earned his Master's Degree in Civil Engineering at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida. Songwit also completed the Command and General Staff Course at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; the Command and General Staff Course at the army Command And General Staff College in Bangkok, the National Defence Course at the National Defence College of Thailand, and the 9th Course on the Rule of Law for Democracy at the College of the Constitutional Court at the Constitutional Court of Thailand.

Songwit also completed the Academy of Business Creativity Course at Sripatum University, the VIP Protection Course at the Diplomatic Security Service in Washington, D.C., USA, and three courses at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia: namely the Airborne Course, the Pathfinder Course, and the Ranger Course. After his term, Songwit later became the battalion commander of the 3rd King Close Bodyguard Battalion, 11th King Close Bodyguard Regiment. During his term as the battalion commander of the 3rd King Close Bodyguard Battalion, Songwit and the battalion paid their respects as part of the King's Guards during the Royal Cremation Ceremony of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Songwit was later named as division commander of the 11th Infantry Division and was later named as commander of the 1st Division, King's Guard on 14 March 2018. Songwit was eventually named as Deputy Commander of the 1st Army Area in 2019.

In July 2025, Songwit encouraged Cambodian armed forces to withdraw weaponry from the Thailand-Cambodia Border in 2025 Cambodia–Thailand border conflict.

Other works Songwit also serves as a director of the Bangchak Corporation since 1 October 2021. Songwit also serves as Vice Chairman of the Berli Jucker Public Company Limited and as a member of the Tobacco Authority of Thailand, and was also appointed as President of the National Defence College of Thailand Association under a Royal Patronage since 2023.

Other awards United States Army Command and General Staff College International Hall of Fame (3 April 2024)