Vietnam's colonel general takes over as top security official

To, 62, a native of the northern Ninh Binh Province, is an Associate Professor in Security Science, holding a PhD in Criminology and Criminal Investigation.

He is a member of the 12th and 13th Central Party Committee, from January 2016 until now. He has had a long career in the police force, holding positions such as Deputy Director of the Environmental Police Department, General Department of Police for Crime Prevention and Control, Deputy Director of the Police Department for Crime Prevention and Control, and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Police Agency at the Ministry of Public Security.

In March 2014, he was appointed as the Permanent Deputy Secretary of Thai Nguyen Province Party Committee and was elected the province's Party Secretary more than a year later.

He served as the Deputy Minister of Public Security from May 2020.

Earlier on Wednesday, the National Assembly approved the dismissal of To Lam from Minister of Public Security position after he was elected president by the NA deputies.

The change in leadership followed the exit of Vo Van Thuong from his position as president in March, upon personal request.

The National Assembly on Monday also voted in Tran Thanh Man, its standing deputy chairman, as its new chairman. The Central Party Committee approved for his predecessor Vuong Dinh Hue to step down as chairman earlier this month.