View source for Kaset Rojananil

{{Short description|Thai air force officer (1933–2024)}}
{{Sources|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox military person
|image        = Kaset Rojananil 1992.jpg
|caption      = Rojananil at the opening of [[Cobra Gold]] 1992
|name         = Kaset Rojananil
|native_name  = เกษตร โรจนนิล
|native_name_lang = th
|birth_date   = {{birth date|1933|8|27|df=y}}
|birth_place  = Thailand
|death_date   = {{death date and age|2024|4|3|1933|8|27|df=y}}
|death_place  = [[Bangkok]], Thailand
|nickname     =
|allegiance   = Thailand
|serviceyears =
|rank         = [[File:RTAF OF-9 (Air Chief Marshal).svg|15px]] [[Air Chief Marshal]]
|branch       = [[Royal Thai Air Force]]
|commands     = [[List of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force|Commander-in-Chief]]
|unit         =
|battles      = 
|awards       =
|laterwork    = Head of [[Thai Airways International]], Founder of the [[Justice Unity Party]]
|signature    =
}}

[[Air Chief Marshal]] '''Kaset Rojananil''' ({{langx|th|เกษตร โรจนนิล}}, {{RTGS|Kaset Rochananin}}; 27 August 1933 – 3 April 2024) was a Thai air force officer. He was the [[Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force]] from 1989 to 1992 and briefly held Thailand's most senior military post, the [[Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces]] from  April to July 1992.<ref>Asia yearbook, Far Eastern economic review, 1993, p. 215</ref>

Kaset was an alumnus of the 5th Class of the [[Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy]], and one of the leaders of the [[National Peace Keeping Council|National Peace Keeping Council's]] 1991 [[coup]] against the government of [[Chatichai Choonhavan]]. After the coup he became head of [[Thai Airways International]], and co-founded the pro-military [[Justice Unity Party]]. He was later demoted to general inspector of the Ministry of Defense.

As head of [[Thai Airways International]], he famously noted that "we have received a lot of complaints that our air hostesses are not pretty enough—too old and unsmiling. And we must improve on that". He added that the airline had been hiring too many college-educated women and that "intelligent women tend to not be good looking." He noted that he had ordered airline recruiters to screen flight attendant applications "in the way beauty-pageant judging panels select contestants."<ref>South China Morning Post, 7 September 1991</ref>

Rojananil died on 3 April 2024, at the age of 90.<ref>{{cite news |title=Key player in 1991 Thai coup, ACM Kaset Rojananil, passes away at 91 |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40036975 |access-date=4 April 2024 |publisher=The Nation |date=4 April 2024}}</ref>

== Honours ==
* 1988 – [[File:Order_of_the_White_Elephant_-_Special_Class_(Thailand)_ribbon.svg|border|80x80px]] Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted [[Order of the White Elephant]]
* 1987 – [[File:Order_of_the_Crown_of_Thailand_-_Special_Class_(Thailand)_ribbon.svg|border|80x80px]] Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble [[Order of the Crown of Thailand]]

* 1992 – [[File:Order_of_Chula_Chom_Klao_-_2nd_Class_upper_(Thailand)_ribbon.svg|border|80x80px]] Knight Grand Commander of the Most Illustrious [[Order of Chula Chom Klao]]
* 1962 – [[File:Victory Medal - Korean War (Thailand) ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Victory Medal - [[Korean War]]
* 1968 – [[File:Victory_Medal_-_Vietnam_War_with_flames_(Thailand)_ribbon.svg|border|80x80px]] Victory Medal - [[Vietnam War]], with flames

* 1990 – [[File:Freeman_Safeguarding_Medal_-_1st_Class_(Thailand)_ribbon.svg|border|80x80px]] Freeman Safeguarding Medal, 1st Class
* 1968 – [[File:Chakra_Mala_Medal_(Thailand)_ribbon.svg|border|80x80px]] Chakra Mala Medal
* 1990 – [[File:The_Boy_Scout_Citation_Medal_-_1st_Class_(Thailand)_ribbon.svg|border|80x80px]] Boy Scout Citation Medal of Vajira, First Class
* 1991 – [[File:King_Rama_IX_Royal_Cypher_Medal_(Thailand)_ribbon.svg|border|80x80px]] [[Royal Cypher Medal of King Rama X|King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal]], 3rd Class

=== Foreign honours ===
* {{Flag|South Vietnam}} :
** [[File:Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|80x80px]] [[Armed Forces Honor Medal]], First Class (1964)
** [[File:Republic_of_Vietnam_Campaign_Medal_ribbon,_with_60-_clasp.svg|80x80px]] [[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] (1964)

* {{Flag|USA}} :
** [[File:US_Legion_of_Merit_Commander_ribbon.png|80x80px]] Commander of the [[Legion of Merit]] (1990)
* {{Flag|Indonesia}} :
** [[File:Bintang Swa Bhuwana Paksa Utama rib.svg|80x80px]] Bintang Swa Bhuwana Paksa, Utama Class (1991)
* {{Flag|Japan}} :
** [[File:JPN_Zuiho-sho_(WW2)_1Class_BAR.svg|80x80px]] Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Sacred Treasure]] (1993)
*{{Flag|South Korea}} :
**[[File:Tong-il Security Medal Ribbon.svg|80x80px]] [[Order of National Security Merit]], Tongil Medal

==References==
<references />

==Further reading==
* Interview with Kaset Rojananil, [[Manager Daily]], 27 January 1993

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rojananil, Kaset}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Royal Thai Air Force air marshals|Kaset Rojananil]]
[[Category:Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy alumni|Kaset Rojananil]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School|Kaset Rojananil]]
[[Category:Justice Unity Party politicians|Kaset Rojananil]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Defence Forces (Thailand)|Kaset Rojananil]]
[[Category:Members of the Senate of Thailand|Kaset Rojananil]]


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