Warakorn Luangluewut, Researcher, Defense Technology Institute (DTI), Thailand

1) What does public service mean to you? Can you share more about your role in the public sector? 

 
I am primarily engaged in research related to defense technology, with responsibilities encompassing research activities, the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, and communication system development.

My professional background began with studies and practical work in image processing, signals and systems, machine learning, and other related fields. I have subsequently applied this knowledge to AI, communication technologies, and other relevant areas in order to maximise benefits for myself, the public, and the nation.

In my work, I strive to develop expertise and innovations in areas of personal interest while ensuring alignment with national needs and organisational policies, so that the outcomes can deliver the greatest possible benefit to all stakeholders. 

2) Tell us about a project you championed. What impact did it have on the community? 

My work provides benefits across the military, civilian, and research sectors.

In the military domain, one of my recent projects involves the development of a system for detecting whether training postures are performed correctly. This system helps make training more convenient, faster, and more efficient by introducing an application that supports instructors in their work.

As a result, instructors are able to supervise and evaluate trainees more effectively, especially in situations where the number of instructors is significantly smaller than the number of cadets. Therefore, this work plays an important role in enhancing military training efficiency. 

In addition, I have also worked on the development of a flood area detection system, which can be further extended into an automatic warning system to alert the public in advance about potential flood hazards.

Such a system would enable communities to prepare more effectively, respond to emergency situations in a timely manner, and reduce possible damage. This aspect of my work therefore contributes significantly to social welfare and public safety. 

In the research domain, I have continuously conducted research and developed new knowledge to support academic advancement and foster collaboration with researchers both domestically and internationally.

This contributes to knowledge exchange, innovation development, and the expansion of research impact at the global level. 

Overall, my work aims to create broad benefits for the civilian sector, the military sector, and the research community. It reflects the application of knowledge, technology, and innovation to support public benefit, national security, and academic progress in a balanced and meaningful way. 

3) As a young professional, how has your unique background or perspective allowed you to identify a solution that others in your organisations might have overlooked? 

Based on my professional experience, I have observed that in some cases, people within my organisation tend to focus on applying existing tools or approaches directly at the application level, without giving sufficient attention to the fundamentals of the problem, the analysis of initial data, or the review of publicly available resources to determine what has already been done, what datasets exist, and which methods may already be applicable. 

A clear example can be seen in Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects, where data and labeling are generally important components.

However, in some cases, the organisation tends to emphasise generating as much labeled data as possible, rather than first identifying the key features of the data and developing efficient methods to extract those features. By doing so, it is often possible to reduce the amount of data required while still achieving meaningful results.

At the same time, reviewing publicly available datasets and prior work can significantly save time and resources, especially under limited project timelines. 

The approach I personally follow is to first examine the data and knowledge that already exist. If the necessary information or relevant aspects are not available, only then do I proceed to collect additional data and perform labeling. Once I understand the extent of the data limitations, I focus on solving the problem from a fundamental perspective.

This approach helps generate new knowledge, reduces development time, and improves the overall efficiency of the work. 

In my view, this method not only makes research and development more suitable under constraints of time and resources, but also contributes greater academic and innovative value than simply relying on existing solutions without deeper foundational analysis. 

4) What is your personal strategy for maintaining your creative energy when faced with bureaucracy? 

I actively seek collaboration and support from external organisations alongside my work within the organisation, particularly in situations where there are internal budget limitations. My approach is to apply for funding from other agencies or seek additional support for research submissions through my university.

As I am currently a PhD student supported by a university scholarship, I am in a position to coordinate with and access funding opportunities from multiple sources to help support my work. 

In addition, because work within the government system often involves time constraints, I plan my work carefully by ensuring that each project has reached a certain level of clarity and feasibility before applying for additional funding or external support. This helps ensure that the work can continue smoothly, reduces the risk of interruption, and prevents possible problems in the future. 

Overall, this approach allows me to manage available resources effectively, improve the likelihood of successfully advancing my research, and maintain flexibility in carrying out my work despite organisational constraints. 

5) If you had just one area to invest in to accelerate transformation in the public sector (regulation, technology, talent, etc.), which one would you choose and why? 

Although I work as a researcher, if I were to identify the first area that I would like the government to prioritise, it would not be research itself, but rather the promotion and development of Thailand’s existing strengths.

Thailand has significant potential in terms of culture and soft power. This can be seen from the strong interest that many foreigners already have in various aspects of Thai culture, such as Muay Thai, Thai cuisine, and other distinctive cultural elements. 

However, what I do not often see clearly on the international stage is Thailand’s ability to develop and promote Thai brands to the same global recognition achieved by some other countries. For example, Thai food has great diversity and strong international appeal, yet globally recognised Thai restaurant brands are still far less prominent than Japanese or Korean brands. Even within Thailand itself, strong Thai food brands do not appear to be as widespread or commercially dominant as many foreign brands. 

In my view, part of this challenge begins with the limited development and promotion of the country’s media and creative industries, including film, music, and other forms of entertainment. These sectors play an essential role in creating national pride and in presenting Thai identity and culture to global audiences. If the government were to provide serious and consistent support in these areas, Thailand’s soft power could develop in a much more concrete and sustainable way. 

Once Thailand is able to strengthen its soft power, it would create greater opportunities for economic value creation, increased national income, and a stronger presence on the global stage. At that point, the country would be in a better position to determine and invest in other areas of development in a more stable and sustainable manner. 

6) What is your greatest ambition as you grow in your public service career? 

I believe that, although I am committed to creating meaningful benefits for society through my work, the level of government support in this area remains relatively limited. As a result, it may not always be possible to generate social impact to the extent that I would like. For this reason, I try to clearly separate my perspective on work from my perspective on personal finances. 

On a personal level, I aim to build the greatest possible financial security for myself, based on goals and calculations that I have carefully planned, so that I can eventually achieve financial freedom. To reach that goal, I pursue multiple approaches, including investment and additional income-generating activities, in order to maximise my chances of financial success. 

Although, in the early stages, these efforts may appear to be primarily self-focused, I believe that once I achieve genuine financial independence, my perspective on work will change significantly. At that point, I will no longer be primarily concerned with the personal benefits I receive from a particular job, but rather with whether that work can help others, contribute to society, and bring me genuine fulfillment and happiness. 

In my view, this mindset can ultimately lead to the greatest form of contribution. When a person no longer sees themselves merely as an employee within a government organisation, but instead sees themselves as an individual with the potential to create meaningful value for the world, their work becomes far more purposeful and impactful. 

7) What is a “universal value” that connects everyone in your department – from interns to directors – and how do you use that to drive collaboration? 

First, I believe that, by nature, human beings tend to prioritise themselves first. This can be understood as part of the instinct for survival and the pursuit of security in life. If a person is able to place collective interests above personal interests, it often reflects that they have already reached a certain level of personal stability or satisfaction. 

For this reason, in people management and organisational collaboration, I believe it is essential to begin by understanding what each individual needs, expects, or finds motivating.

Different people are driven by different factors. Some may value recognition and respect, while others may place greater importance on quality of life, opportunities for rest, or other forms of benefits and support. 

Once an organisation understands the needs of each individual, it should consider those needs alongside that person’s role, potential, and capabilities. In other words, it is important to assess how much value the person can contribute to the organisation, while also considering how effectively the organisation can respond to that person’s needs and provide appropriate motivation. 

I believe that when an organisation is able to create an appropriate balance between its goals and the needs of its personnel, it can strengthen motivation, encourage better collaboration, and ultimately lead to outcomes that are beneficial to both the individual and the organisation in the long term. 

8) What is the best piece of advice you’ve got for the next generation of public servants? 

I believe that, in every position, a person should perform their duties to the best of their ability and with full commitment. However, in real working life, there may be situations in which the outcomes do not meet one’s expectations.

For example, one’s efforts may not be properly recognised, or one may encounter circumstances that feel unfair. In some cases, these realities are part of the path one has chosen and must learn to accept with maturity and self-awareness. 

At the same time, if a person feels that they cannot grow further or cannot continue to accept the organisational environment in the long term, I believe the most important thing is to continue developing their own capabilities.

When a person has strong performance, clear abilities, and professional value, they will naturally have more opportunities and wider career options that may offer better growth and more appropriate rewards. 

In addition, I believe that once a person has achieved a certain level of stability and satisfaction in life, they should also give back to society according to their capacity and opportunities. True success should not be measured only by what one gains for oneself, but also by what one is able to contribute to others and to society as a whole. 

9) What is a myth you wish to debunk about young public servants? 

 
I can say with pride that one of the most outstanding aspects of my professional journey is my academic work. Over the past five years in this field, although I am currently only 30 years old, I have already published more than ten academic works.

In addition, my research has been cited by other scholars, and my publications can be verified through Google Scholar under the name “Warakorn Luangluewut.” 

I believe that there are certainly others who are capable of achieving similar accomplishments. However, when considered in relation to age and length of professional experience, I believe it is not easy to frequently find individuals with comparable achievements.

In many cases, people with this level of capability and academic output often choose to work in the private sector, where the financial rewards are significantly higher. 

Even so, I have chosen to continue working in the public sector because it is work that I genuinely love and feel committed to. I am also fortunate to have supportive colleagues around me. Although there are times when the organisation may have limitations or circumstances that do not fully meet my expectations, I remain committed to performing my duties to the best of my ability. 

I hope that one day, when I am no longer in this world, people will still remember me through the research, knowledge, and technologies that I have created and contributed to society. 

10) Write a letter to your future self in 2035.

 
Dear future self, 

I hope that by the time you read this, you will have already achieved the goals you once set for yourself. If that is the case, I hope you will keep the promise you made to yourself—to give back to society and contribute to others in the way you always intended. 

However, if you have not yet reached that point, I also understand that there may still be challenges, responsibilities, or unfinished paths that you must continue to pursue in order to arrive there. 

But if, one day, you gain enough knowledge, capability, or advanced technology—especially in the realm of quantum physics or something that makes time travel possible—I would like to ask you to send something back to me in the present.

More specifically, I would like you to send guidance on investment or decision-making: what I should focus on now so that I can succeed and eventually become the version of you that exists in that future. 

I believe that if information from the future could truly reach me in the present, the path to success would become far clearer and much easier. Until that day comes, however, I will continue to move forward using my own effort, determination, and abilities.