U Kyaw Thu

U Kyaw Thu,  was born on 15 August 1949, in Yangon. He is the eldest son of the late President Dr. Maung Maung and Daw Khin Myint. In 1967 after the completion of his high school education, he was selected as Officer Cadet and under-went training at the Defence Services Academy. In 1971, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Defence Services Academy) degree and, in 1997 obtained a Diploma in Defence and Security from the National Defence College.

From 1971 to 1998 he served in various infantry units up to the rank of Light Infantry Division Commander. Various citations and awards such as Distinguished Service Medal, Medal of Armed Forces Golden Jubilee Year, General Service Medal, People’s War Medal, State Peace and Tranquility Medal, Maing Yan/Me Tha Waw Battle Star, Conquest over Threat Medal, Military Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Class), Service Medal (20 years), Service to the State Medal, Campaign Star (1974-1988) and Campaign Star (1988-1990) etc. were honored and decorated during the time of his military career.

After attaining high level positions in the Army for over 30 years, he was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was posted as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of South Africa from 1999 to 2001 and to the Republic of India from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, he was appointed as the Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also, during his diplomatic career, titles and awards including . Green Diplomacy Award -2002 (India Institute of Ecology and Environment), 2003 IMM Award for Excellence as Top Diplomat (Ministry of Human Resource Development-India) and Medal for Excellent Performance in Administration field (First Class) (Myanmar) were honored by the Government of the Union of Myanmar.

After the Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in May 2008, U Kyaw Thu was appointed as Chairman of the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) which comprises of the Government of the Union of Myanmar, the ASEAN and the United Nations, to coordinate, facilitate and monitor the flow of international assistance and to assist the Government’s relief and recovery activities. For his outstanding achievement, Sehan University of the Republic of Korea conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration to U Kyaw Thu in May 2013.

He was appointed as the Chairman (Minister) of Civil Service Selection and Training Board from 3rd February 2009 to 31st March 2016, now known as the Union Civil Service Board. Thiri Pyan-chi (Ministerial title) was bestowed upon U Kyaw Thu by the Government of Myanmar in January 2012. U Kyaw Thu and Daw Lai Lai Kyi have a daughter and a son, namely, Daw Mya Thandar Oo and U Aung Kyaw Soe and also have two grandsons.