Yuthasak Sasiprapha

Yuthasak Sasiprapha (Thai: ยุทธศักดิ์ ศศิประภา) is a Thai politician and retired military officer. He has been deputy defence minister in Thaksin Shinawatra's government, and president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand. From August 2011 to January 2012, he was Minister of Defence, and since then he has served as Deputy Prime Minister in the government of Yingluck Shinawatra until 28 October 2012.

General Yuthasak Sasiprapha MWM MPCh TChW
ยุทธศักดิ์ ศศิประภา
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 18 January 2012 – 28 October 2012
Prime Minister	Yingluck Shinawatra
Minister of Defence
In office 9 August 2011 – 18 January 2012
Prime Minister	Yingluck Shinawatra
Preceded by	Prawit Wongsuwan
Succeeded by	Sukampol Suwannathat
President of National Olympic Committee of Thailand
In office 2001 – 4 April 2017
Preceded by	Chetta Thanajaro
Succeeded by	Prawit Wongsuwan
Personal details
Born	(1937-01-08) 8 January 1937 Bangkok, Siam
Nationality	Thai
Political party	Pheu Thai Party
Spouse	Khunying Orapan Sasiprapha
Alma mater	Saint Gabriel's College Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy
Profession	Politician Army Officer
Signature
Military service
Branch/service	Royal Thai Army
Years of service	1961–1998
Rank	General Admiral Air Chief Marshal

Background

General Yuthasak Sasiprapha is son of Lieutenant General Att and Jumroon Sasiprapha. He is married to Khunying Orapan Sasiprapha and has 3 children. General Yuthasak studied secondary class at Saint Gabriel's College and graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1961. He also studied in Army Command and Staff College Class 48 and National Defence College of Thailand Class 33.

Career

General Yuthasak Sasiprapha served Royal Thai Army until earned title Major General in 1985 for Army Reserve Force Students chief of staff. In 1990 he was promoted as Lieutenant General and General in 1996, when he was director-general for Office of Policy and Planning, Ministry of Defence. He was permanent secretary of Ministry of Defence from 1 October 1996 until retired in 1998.

Entry into politics

General Yuthasak entered in politics by joined Thai Rak Thai Party and was elected as party list MP. In 2001, he was deputy defence minister in Thaksin Shinawatra's government. In general election 2011, he was also elected as party-list MP from Pheu Thai Party. On 9 August 2011, he was appointed Minister of Defence in the government of Yingluck Shinawatra. In a cabinet reshuffle on 18 January 2012, he lost the Defence portfolio, but was made Deputy Prime Minister, charged with overseeing security affairs.

Royal Decorations

received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand :

• 1989 - Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
• 1993 - Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the White Elephant
• 2011 - Knight Commander of the Order of the Direkgunabhorn
• 1997 - Grand Companion of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
• 2011 - Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati
• 1964 - Victory Medal - Korean War
• 1973 - Victory Medal - Vietnam War, With Flames
• 1997 - Freemen Safeguarding Medal, First Class
• 1967 - Border Service Medal
• 1977 - Chakra Mala Medal
• 1964 - King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal, Fifth Class

Foreign honour

• South Vietnam :
  • Gallantry Cross, With Bronze Star
  • Armed Forces Honor Medal, First Class
  • Staff Service Medal, First Class
  • Civil Actions Medal, First Class
  • Vietnam Campaign Medal
  • Cultural and Educational Service Medal, Second Class
  • Public Health Service Medal, Second Class
  • Social Service Medal, First Class
  • Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal, Second Class
  • Labor Medal, Second Class
  • Ethnic Development Medal, First Class
  • Police Honor Medal, Second Class
  • Youth and Sports Service Medal, Second Class
• USA :
  • Army Commendation Medal