Prajin Juntong

Prajin Juntong (Thai: ประจิน จั่นตอง; born 7 March 1954) is the Minister of Justice, serving until 8 May 2019, and the deputy chairman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). He also holds the post of deputy prime minister. From 2012 to 2014 he was the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF).

Prajin Juntong
ประจิน จั่นตอง
Prajin Juntong at ITU Telecom World 2016
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 19 August 2014 – 8 May 2019
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Minister of Justice
In office 23 November 2017 – 8 May 2019
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Preceded by	Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana
Succeeded by	Somsak Thepsuthin
Acting Minister of Information and Communication Technology
In office 13 September 2016 – 15 September 2016
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Preceded by	Uttama Savanayana
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Minister of Transport
In office 30 August 2014 – 19 August 2015
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Preceded by	Chadchart Sittipunt
Succeeded by	Arkom Termpittayapaisith
Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force
In office 1 October 2012 – 30 September 2014
Preceded by	Itthaporn Subhawong
Succeeded by	Treetod Sonjance
Personal details
Born	(1954-03-07) 7 March 1954 Phitsanulok, Thailand
Spouse	Jintana Juntong
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch/service	Royal Thai Air Force
Years of service	1974–2014

Early life and education

Prajin attended Uttaradit School and Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (class 13). After graduating from Royal Thai Air Force Academy (class 20) and National Defence College of Thailand (class 48). He graduated with a Ph.D. Public Administration Branch from the Institute of Public Administration, College of Public Administration Rangsit University in 2013.

Air Force career

Prajin, served as Chief of the Air Staff on 1 October 2009, before serving as Assistant Air Force Commander on 1 October 2011. On 1 October 2012, he was promoted to commander-in-chief of the air force in 2012.

Political careers

Prajin at Cope Tiger 13 closing ceremony

Later on 21 February 2014, the board of directors of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited resolved to grant Prajin, who held the position the first vice chairman of the board of directors to the chairman of the board of directors to replace Ampon Kittiampon, secretary general to the cabinet who resigned from being chairman of the board.

Prajin was appointed Minister of Transport in the government of Prayut Chan-ocha and served as deputy chairman of the National Council for Peace and Order until August 2015, was adapted to assume the position of Deputy Prime Minister responsible for the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and the Office of the National Research Council.

At the cabinet meeting on 13 September 2016, it was resolved to appoint Prajin as Deputy Prime Minister to oversee the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to take charge of the position, replacing Uttama Savanayana, who had resigned from the position on 12 September 2016.

On 1 May 2018, he was appointed the chairman of the Committee on the Management of Rehabilitation of Children and Youth.

In 2019, Prajin was appointed senator by resigning from every position in the government.

Decorations

• Thailand  :
  • Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the White Elephant
  • Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
  • Freeman Safeguarding Medal, 2nd Class 2nd Cat
  • Chakra Mala Medal
  • The Boy Scout Citation Medal, 1st Class
• Singapore :
  • Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera)
• Indonesia :
  • Bintang Swa Bhuwana Paksa, 1st Class