General Yuthasak Sasiprapha MWM MPCh TChW |
|
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ยุทธศักดิ์ ศศิประภา | |
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand | |
In office 18 January 2012 – 28 October 2012 |
|
Prime Minister | Yingluck Shinawatra |
Preceded by | Kowit Wattana |
Succeeded by |
Surapong Tovichakchaikul Plodprasop Suraswadi Phongthep Thepkanjana |
Minister of Defence | |
In office 9 August 2011 – 18 January 2012 |
|
Prime Minister | Yingluck Shinawatra |
Preceded by | Prawit Wongsuwan |
Succeeded by | Sukampol Suwannathat |
Personal details | |
Born |
Bangkok, Thailand |
8 January 1937
Nationality | Thai |
Political party | Pheu Thai Party |
Spouse(s) | Khunying Orapan Sasiprapha |
Alma mater | Saint Gabriel's College, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy |
Profession | Member of Parliament, soldier |
Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
Military service | |
Service/branch | Royal Thai Army |
Rank | General |
General 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 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.
General Yuthasak 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 (Thailand). He was permanent secretary of Ministry of Defence from 1 October 1996 until retired in 1998.
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.