What does the position involve?
Quite a bit; everything from budgets and administration to organizing sponsorship and races and purchasing equipment. It’s a full-time job but I must also attend to my naval duties so I get up at 5:15am and split my time between the two. I often end up taking work home. I only manage because I take time to train my subordinates and constantly encourage them. They have to learn the virtues of duty and honesty.

This is a taxing schedule!
Yes, but I still find time to be with my family. I have a wife and a 19 year-old daughter who is studying at Chulalongkorn University and also working as a music teacher. All along we have tried to encourage her to know right from wrong and to think for herself. I see my role as guide and mentor. I am pleased that she has taken to music. In my younger days I played a Thai two-string violin, which is used in classical music.

What do you hope for your daughter?
Mainly, that she has a happy family life. I don’t believe that success has to involve having a big house or lots of money and so on.

Do you often come to Phuket? What do you like about it?
I first visited the Island in 1971 on official business and have been a frequent visitor since, on both YRAT and navy business. Phuket is a vibrant and ever-changing environment. It has grown much bigger and busier over the years and I see this on balance as an improvement. There are two things I do every time I come here – the first is to pay my respects to Laung Por Chaem (the revered and renowned monk) at Chalong Temple; the second is to drive to Promthep Cape and to renew my acquaintance with Mii Sapam (a local noodle dish).

What is your hobby?
Well, as I’ve said, my schedule is pretty full and doesn’t give me much time for hobbies. I do, however, enjoy a game of golf when I get the chance. I bought my first set of clubs in Singapore in 1977. When I have official visitors we can sometimes mix business discussions with pleasure during a round of golf.
I’m also a collector of pictures. Each picture is a reminder of the place and time in my life where it was acquired. It’s rather like having a diary, but one that’s beautiful at the same time.

How is your life style?
I’d say I am a pretty relaxed sort of person. Like many service members I hold very strongly to a sense of duty and responsibility for the well-being of those around me – my colleagues, my subordinates and of course my family and friends. I hate to see disappointment in others.

What are you afraid to face?
Absolutely nothing! I believe our destiny is written and we cannot escape it. We must use our skills and experience to confront problems and resolve them as best we can.