Yuthasak Sasiprapha

Yuthasak Sasiprapha (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.

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 - Order of the Crown of Thailand - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
 * 1993 - Order of the White Elephant - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the White Elephant
 * 2011 - Order of the Direkgunabhorn 2nd class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Knight Commander of the Order of the Direkgunabhorn
 * 1997 - Order of Chula Chom Klao - 3rd Class upper (Thailand) ribbon.svg Grand Companion of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
 * 2011 - Order of Ramkeerati (Thailand) ribbon.svg Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati
 * 1964 - Victory Medal - Korean War (Thailand) ribbon.svg Victory Medal - Korean War
 * 1973 - Victory Medal - Vietnam War with flames (Thailand) ribbon.svg Victory Medal - Vietnam War, With Flames
 * 1997 - Freeman Safeguarding Medal - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg Freemen Safeguarding Medal, First Class
 * 1967 - Border Service Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Border Service Medal
 * 1977 - Chakra Mala Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg Chakra Mala Medal
 * 1964 - King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (Thailand) ribbon.svg King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal, Fifth Class

Foreign honour

 * South Vietnam :
 * Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star (South Vietnam).png Gallantry Cross With Bronze Star
 * Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Armed Forces Honor Medal, First Class
 * Vietnam Staff Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Staff Service Medal, First Class
 * Vietnam Civil Actions Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Civil Actions Medal, First Class
 * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon, with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal
 * Vietnam_Cultural_and_Educational_Service_Medal_ribbon-Second_Class.svg Cultural and Educational Service Medal, Second Class
 * Vietnam Public Health Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Public Health Service Medal, Second Class
 * Vietnam Social Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Social Service Medal, First Class
 * [[File:Vietnam Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg|80x80px]] Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal, Second Class
 * Vietnam Labor Medal ribbon-Second--Third Class.svg Labor Medal, Second Class
 * Vietnam Ethnic Development Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Ethnic Development Medal, First Class
 * Vietnam Police Honor Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Police Honor Medal, Second Class
 * Vietnam_Youth_and_Sports_Service_Medal_ribbon-Second_Class.svg Youth and Sports Service Medal, Second Class
 * 🇺🇸 USA :
 * Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Army Commendation Medal