Chaiyanan likely to crack whip at airport

Published on August 03, 2005 - Barely two months before his retirement from military service, General Chaiyanan Charoensiri has accepted a new job: putting fire to the feet of contractors building the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

A well-trained officer from the military engineering corps, Chaiyanan is expected to rein in contractors to complete the juggernaut project.

After resigning as commanding general of the Armed Forces Development Command on Monday, Chaiyanan will take the post of deputy transport minister.

Although he was a career military officer, he came highly recommended for his ministerial portfolio.

Among his classmates at the pre-cadet school in the class of 1963 was Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Wantana, who has also received a Cabinet appointment as interior minister.

Born on November 14, 1944, Chaiyanan graduated from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in 1968. A fellow cadet there was Supreme Commander General Chaisit Shinawatra, cousin to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

After serving in a number of positions as an army engineer, he moved to the Supreme Command Headquarters to take up senior assignments.

He also served under former supreme commander general Mongkol Ampornpisit, who after his retirement, became head of the New Bangkok International Airport Co, which is in charge of the airport project.

Chaiyanan was appointed to lead the Armed Forces Development Command in 2003.