Institutional History
The National Defense College is an advanced educational and research institution under the Ministry of Defense. It was established by the Royal Decree of the Defense Ministry's organizational regulation of the General Staff Department in 1955, which was issued on February 2, 1955, to "impart knowledge related to national defense to senior officials, both military and civilian, to instill awareness and responsibility for defending, fighting, organizing forces, governing, and maintaining the peace of the country."
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The concept that led to the founding of the National Defense College was outlined in the Ministry of Defense regulation on the college, announced on April 21, 1955, which stated, "The defense of the nation today does not solely depend on military forces. On the contrary, all officials in the ministry, as well as organizations in the country, must work together to safeguard the nation. Citizens and all national resources must be integrated into the national defense plan to ensure coordinated efforts in fighting, organizing forces, governing, and maintaining peace. The government must establish an educational institution as a central source of knowledge for those who will play key operational roles in national defense. This institution was named the "National Defense College." |
The idea for the establishment of the National Defense College emerged around 1952 and was approved by the government led by Prime Minister Phibunsongkhram, who also held the position of Minister of Defense. It was decided that the General Staff Department would be responsible for finding a location for the college. In 1953, General Dech Dechpradiyuth, who was then the Chief of the Defense Staff, chose the area behind the Ministry of Defense building to construct the National Defense College.
History of the Institution:
 | The cornerstone of the National Defense College was laid on Sunday, August 5, 1953, by Prime Minister Phibunsongkhram. Construction was completed in 1954, and the opening ceremony for both the building and the first batch of students was held on July 14, 1955. Prime Minister Phibunsongkhram presided over the ceremony. The development of the National Defense College can be divided into three periods:
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The First Era: The Founding Period (1955–1966)
In the early years, the National Defense College was located behind the Ministry of Defense, near the inner city moat, known as Khlong Rong Mai (Khlong Toei). The construction budget was 7,493,000 Baht, and the building consisted of three floors: the upper floor had lecture rooms, the middle floor was for meetings, and the lower floor served as a reception area for ceremonies such as awarding degrees to the graduates. The building also housed parts of the General Staff Department, as well as meeting rooms for the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).
The first batch of 68 students included military officers with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and above, as well as senior civil servants and high-ranking police officers. A key condition for admission was approval from the Cabinet. On July 14, 1955, the first class commenced, with General Jira Vichitsongkram, the Chief of the Defense Staff, delivering a summary report to Prime Minister Phibunsongkhram.
Education in this period was mainly lecture-based, supplemented by films, group discussions, problem-solving sessions, and field visits to industries in Bangkok and other provinces. Notably, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit awarded honorary degrees to graduates in one of the key events during this time. Students also had the opportunity to meet with King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Phuping Palace in Chiang Mai, where His Majesty emphasized the importance of independent, candid research.
The Development Period (1967-1977)
Due to space constraints, the college's location became unsuitable for operations. As a result, the General Staff Headquarters received a plot of land from the Army (37.86 acres) at Kilometer 6 on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Phaya Thai district. Construction of the new National Defense College building began in 1961, overseen by Major General Chalerm Mahattananon, the college's director. The foundation stone was laid on October 12, 1961, by Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn. The construction budget was 22,422,000 Baht.
In 1967, the new building was completed and the college moved to its current location. The opening ceremony of the new campus was held on August 13, 1967, during the ninth batch of students' studies. This marked the end of the college's first 20 years of operation, during which many significant events occurred, including curriculum improvements and the introduction of new education policies, such as allowing public enterprise employees and women to attend.
The Integrated Era (1988-Present)
In this era, the National Defense College started incorporating new technologies such as fax machines and computers into its operations. The college also extended education opportunities to lower-ranked officers and established collaborative programs with key military educational institutions. The most significant development in this period was the creation of a new curriculum designed to address changes in global security, involving both public and private sector cooperation for national security and economic development.
To accommodate the increasing number of students, the college expanded its facilities, completing the construction of new buildings in 1995. In 2003, the National Defense College began offering courses to foreign students, marking a significant milestone in its internationalization. The college continued to evolve, with periodic curriculum updates and the introduction of additional specialized courses for government officials and politicians.
The college has played a key role in shaping Thailand’s national defense strategy and fostering cooperation among different sectors of society, contributing to the country’s overall security and development.
