SAF to get new Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Army
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 15 January 2010 1452 hrs

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will get a new Chief of Defence Force from end of March.

That's when Major-General Neo Kian Hong, currently Chief of Army, takes over from Lieutenant-General Desmond Kuek Bak Chye as Chief of Defence Force.

Brigadier-General Chan Chun Sing, currently Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, will be the new Chief of Army from 26 March.

Mindef says the changes are part of the continuing process of leadership renewal in the SAF. It adds that Lt-Gen Desmond Quek will be returning to the Administrative Service.

As Chief of Defence Force since 23 March 2007, Lt-Gen Kuek has led the SAF's transformation into a modernised, integrated and networked fighting force capable of carrying out a wider spectrum of operations.

Mindef says he has put in place the building blocks of the 3rd Generation SAF by transforming its force structure and developing key capabilities and systems.

These initiatives have significantly enhanced the SAF's operational efficiency and combat capability to deal effectively with conventional and new security challenges.

Under Lt-Gen Kuek's command, the SAF has also actively participated in regional and global security operations, such as multilateral collaborations and peace support operations.

These have broadened and deepened the SAF's extensive network of defence relations with other armed forces and enhanced its international reputation as a credible, operationally ready force.

The incoming Chief of Defence Force, 46-year-old Maj-Gen Neo, joined the SAF in 1983. As Chief of Army, he built a network of dedicated people, equipped with cutting-edge technologies and enhanced fire power.

The new Chief of Army, 40-year-old Brig-Gen Chan Chun Sing, was previously Commander 9th Division and Chief Infantry Officer.

- CNA/yb/ir

Source of report: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1030919/1/.html

Work under BG Chan before during Reservist time.He was 9 Div Commander (Designate)...Aspiring leader...the type of commander who will go out to sweat & get muddy with his men.

This is the news link from Mindef website:
http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_...15jan10_nr.html

BG Chan looks like he has a lot of infantry experience under his command...guess he's the man to ensure that 3G implementation will truly enhance each and every foot soldier B)

I think LG kuek should stay on longer and see through his O.N.E SAF vision. That will surely make the SAF a better working environment for all.

the same goes to some of his commanders...

like the previous 10SIB BCO.

can plan, can chiong sua, get dirty & muddy up the front line just to get first hand situation.... sometimes making his team of men worry for him. but his mobile team moved subtly.... no one knew their location.

he just fit perfectly in the picture of a military man.

A couple of years ago, our NS brigade were mobilzed for full equipping on late Saturday night. We only standown on Sunday afternoon. BG Chan (9 Div Comd Designate) commended the success though most of us were very sleepy & exhausted. Officially we were only granted half day pay but BG Chan openly declared as a token of appreciation for our efforts, all of us will get a full day pay instead.

Though BG Chan is an SAF Scholar, he comes from a poor family. His mum brought 4 siblings up singly. He told us that one of the goals of his scholarship is to relive his family financial burden.

I guess 20 years later, he can tell him mum he made the right choice.

The current 9 Div Comander is my NSF battalion CO. We are waiting to see how far he goes also.

Will we see a CDF/COA from the minority race or a female general?

I will not be surprised to see a COA/CDF from minority race. In fact, some may be deliberately groomed to take that position.

But a female COA/CDF will be a bit difficult unless there is existing female Division commanders??I never seen any from American armies also.

Female generals are possible coz there are already several female colonels around.

Does it really matter what race or gender the CDF/COA is as long as they are up to the job?

IMHO, yes not but not so soon..

Will be best if she does not look like mother but instead one of those sexy mediacorp actress.

Nice!! Too bad SAF has no full 4 star General rank.. <_<

No, but we have PM (3 star), SM (4 star) & MM (5 star). :P

Being in the Panther family for so many years since enlistment, glad to most of the COA/CDF from my division. :D

Speaking of which, that reminds me of someone (a female regular) who is so proud of her surname cos the CDF is LG KUEK.. :P

Heard there are different cultures across various division but my division culture is always emphasize on loyalty & ready to sacrifice for our nation. We always call ourshelves 'The Panther Family"

I need to rephase my sentence earlier. The recent COA/CDF are from 9 Div while previously most are from 3 Div.

9 Div Honour Roll
Lim Chuan Poh
Neo Kian Hong
Chan Chun Sing

Maybe the question is will we see a CDF from the Navy one day?? :P

Why have a navy COD when the current MOD is from the navy.

You guys had names for your shelves? :D

Sorry, couldn't resist. Ahem.

And who is pink panther?

We had a CDF from RSAF. We have not got a CDF from RSN.

IIRC, I read (or heard) somewhere that our current DM was earmarked for CDF when he was CNV.

Quip: Maybe he is so good that he was plucked from the military by the political masters (here goes our first VAdm) to join the public service; skipped the CDF appointment and become the DMP/DM. B)

Come to think of it. TCM rise to the current position is quite similar to the PM. Both men hailed from the military. The former was CNV while the latter was number two in SAF. One is DPM (designated acting PM when PM is oversea or on leave) while the other is PM. :rolleyes:

ST Engineering Board Changes - Appointment of MG Neo Kian Hong as non-executive Director of the Company

Singapore, 18 February 2010 - Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) today announced the appointment of MG Neo Kian Hong as non-executive Director of the Company and the appointment of COL Ong Ann Kiat as Alternate Director to MG Neo. Upon his appointment, MG Neo will also be appointed a Member of the Business Investment and Divestment Committee, Senior Human Resource Committee and Risk Review Committee.

ST Engineering also announced the resignation of LG Desmond Kuek Bak Chye and the cessation of appointment of COL Chia Choon Hoong as his Alternate Director.

The changes will take effect from 31 March 2010.

MG Neo, 46, a Singaporean, currently Chief of Army, is the Chief of Defence Force-Designate. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) (Electrical Engineering) and (Electronic Engineering) from the University of London, UK as well as a Master of Science (Management of Technology) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.

COL Ong, 37, a Singaporean, is the Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Intelligence), Ministry of Defence. He holds a Bachelor of Science (First Class Hons) (Economics) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, UK as well as a Master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.

LG Kuek has been with the Board since 27 April 2007 and has been a Member of the Business Investment and Divestment Committee, Senior Human Resource Committee and Risk Review Committee respectively.

The Board of Directors would like to acknowledge with deep appreciation LG Kuek's invaluable contribution to the Board and the respective Board Committees that he has served. The Board would also like to acknowledge the contributions of COL Chia as Alternate Director.

The Board of Directors welcomes MG Neo and COL Ong to the Board and look forward to their contributions.

Source: ST Engineering Press Release - ST Engineering Board Changes

COA Chan Chun Sing also holds appointment in a statutory board but not sure if he still in it now.

http://www.dsta.gov.sg/index.php/449-DSTA-Board/

Army Welcomes its New Chief

--> News Article Link

--> News Video Link

This is one of the local paper's report on the hand-over ceremony.

"Hail to the chief
05:55 AM Mar 27, 2010

The Army welcomed its new chief Brigadier-General Chan Chun Sing (in black beret), on Friday in a change of command parade at Pasir Laba Camp. BG Chan, who takes over from Major-General Neo Kian Hong (in brown beret), joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1987 and was awarded the SAF (Overseas) and President's Scholarship in 1988. He has held several senior command and staff appointments in the SAF, including Commander 10th Singapore Infantry Brigade and Chief of Staff-Joint Staff. MG Neo will be taking over as Chief of Defence Force from Lieutenant-General Desmond Kuek."

Whoa. Black beret? The COA is Inf, thus should be green. I know. The others too.
Brown beret? More accurately, should be khaki.

I don't know whether to laugh or shake my head...

Hmmm, who's the author of the article??

Not mentioned. Can check out the online edition.

What's the paper? Won't say directly but here's a hint: Free and red in colour. :)

I saw a Leopard tank in the training shack during the parade.

Cheers.

such parades tend to have a lot of hardware displays as well...in '07 when MG Neo stepped up as CoA, there were many vehicles, including a 'Ghilled' up Merc flatbed truck (the one used for towing mortar tubes) with snipers at the back, your assortment of Bionixes, an AH-64 (they had to close off the parade square to land the chopper, it was an amazing experience) and even a very slender hull patrol vessel.

next COC parade will have HIMARS! :)

are foreign military dignitaries invited to the ceremony? if not, why should the SAF expend so much fuel and engine hours for an internal ceremony? a simple and dignified marching contingent should suffice.

unker ....during my active days....when they was a chief engineer change of command ceremony....there was not only a matching contigent from all engineers units but also an mobile column showing casing all engineers equipment......all for one COL only.....

actually you brought up something that the Armour FSM was telling us...foreign dignitaries will be invited to grace the occasion, so while they are there we need to give them the best possible impression and look our toughest, you know, the penis envy thing...

yes, if foreign dignitaries are invited, then the consumption of SAF properties can be justified. otherwise for internal ceremony it should be simple, dignified and austere. especially as senior commanders one should be mindful that we set a personal behaviour example for the unit.

this is not only true for the SAF, or being in politics, but also in the corporate world. if you expect your employee to treat company property and expenses with care and respect, you must apply the same rules to yourself as management staff.

no foreign dignitaries? if I am the CoA I will ask him to explain, and if not satisfactory as him to sign extra :D

wah lau....if you were COA what u need is more than foreign dignitaries.....i think u will fall in a contigent of milo ah mois....

oh yah if no ah moi contingent then I ask the SAF RSM (is it still encek Yee?) to sign extra hahaha. he was my demolition trainer during engineers commander course ;@)

at least in '07 is was still him :)

MG Neo Kian Hong is now CDF..

--> News link

--> News video

LG Desmond Kuek will be the new Permanent Secretary (Ministry of Environment & Water Resources).. The video also shows the civilian career paths of previous CDFs after retirement from the SAF..

--> From General to civilian

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Glad to have worked under LG (Retd) Winston Choo during his time in Singapore Red Cross (SRC).. The video is wrong, he was Chairman of SRC, not president, & he has already left his post in SRC..