Senior General Than Shwe (Burmese: သန်းရွှေ; IPA: ; born 2 February 1933) is the head of state of Myanmar (Burma), serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Tatmadaw and chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) since 23 April 1992. SPDC is the name of the former State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), established in 1988. He is also the head of Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). These positions and titles effectively amount to Than Shwe being what is generally referred to as the "head" of Myanmar's ruling military junta.

Than Shwe was born in Minzu village, near Kyaukse, Mandalay Division, British Burma. After working as a postman he enlisted in the Burmese army, where he participated in the government's powerful counter-insurgency campaign against ethnic-Karen guerrillas in eastern Burma.

After the military coup of 1962 by General Ne Win, Than Shwe continued to rise steadily through the ranks. He reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1972, Colonel in 1978, Commander of the South West Regional Command in 1983, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Brigadier-General and Deputy Minister of Defence in 1985 and then Major-General in 1986.