Chief of Defence Force (Singapore)

The CDF is the operational head of the SAF,{{cite web|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/about_us/organisation_structure.html|title=MINDEF - About Us - Organisation Structure|date=4 March 2011|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Defence|access-date=10 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807182222/http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/about_us/organisation_structure.html|archive-date=2008-08-07|url-status=live}} and holds a seat on the Armed Forces Council which oversees all matters pertaining to the SAF.{{Singapore legislation|title=Singapore Armed Forces Act|cap=295|ed=2000}} Section 8. Retrieved 10 March 2011. In addition, if any of the four service chiefs—the Chief of Army, Chief of Navy, Chief of Air Force or Chief of Digital and Intelligence Service—is unable to carry out his duties, the CDF is tasked to perform those duties in addition to his own. If the CDF is unable to perform his own duties, the Minister of Defence is allowed to select one of the four service chiefs to perform the CDF's duties.

The office of CDF also carries with it a position as one of three full-time aides-de-camp to the President. According to the Singapore Presidential Office website, the position entails handling the President's security and his/her social needs, in addition to other general duties.{{cite web|url=http://www.istana.gov.sg/content/istana/presidentsoffice/aidesdecamp.html|title=Aides-de-Camp|publisher=Istana (President's Office)|access-date=6 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602085016/http://www.istana.gov.sg/content/istana/presidentsoffice/aidesdecamp.html|archive-date=2 June 2011}}

A number of powers relating to summary trials for military offences is vested in the CDF. Paragraph 2, Section 62 of the Singapore Armed Forces Act states that any offence in which the accused holds the rank of Colonel or Military Expert 7 is to be referred to the CDF,{{Singapore legislation|title=Singapore Armed Forces Act|cap=295|ed=2000}} Section 62. Retrieved 10 March 2011. who can then dismiss the charge, hold a summary trial, or pass the case on to the director of legal services of the SAF,{{Singapore legislation|title=Singapore Armed Forces Act|cap=295|ed=2000}} Section 65B. Retrieved 10 March 2011. who can in turn instruct the CDF to try the accused.{{Singapore legislation|title=Singapore Armed Forces Act|cap=295|ed=2000}} Section 67. Retrieved 10 March 2011.

As head of the SAF, the CDF often makes visits to countries with shared military interests, such as Bahrain,{{cite news|url=http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/428109|title=CP MEETS SINGAPORE CHIEF OF DEFENCE FORCE|date=20 October 2008|publisher=Bahrain News Agency|access-date=26 July 2011}} Japan,{{cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/jdf/no15/leaders.html#activity02|title=Courtesy Visit by Singapore Armed Forces Chief of Defence Force|date=November 2009|work=Japan Defense Focus|publisher=Japan Self-Defense Force|access-date=26 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006153217/http://www.mod.go.jp/e/jdf/no15/leaders.html#activity02|archive-date=2012-10-06|url-status=live}} and Vietnam,{{cite news|url=http://www.dztimes.net/post/politics/defence-co-operation-ties-with-singapore-appreciated.aspx|title=Defence co-operation, ties with Singapore appreciated|date=19 April 2011|work=Vietnam News|publisher=dztimes.net|access-date=26 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327224835/http://www.dztimes.net/post/politics/defence-co-operation-ties-with-singapore-appreciated.aspx|archive-date=2012-03-27|url-status=dead}} and also occasionally hosts foreign military chiefs on official visits.{{cite news|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6792712.html|title=China's PLA Chief of General Staff visits Singapore|date=24 October 2009|publisher=Xinhua|access-date=26 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017122309/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6792712.html|archive-date=2012-10-17|url-status=live}}

The role of the head of the SAF was first titled as "Director, General Staff" around 1969, and was held by Brigadier-General T. J. D. Campbell,{{cite web|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/content/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/army/microsites/armymuseum/education/stories/Personal_Stories/The_Swinging_60s/Evelyn_Tay.print.html?Status=1|title=Stories - Profile of Ms Evelyn Tay|date=25 August 2006|publisher=Army Museum Singapore|access-date=10 March 2011}} who was previously Head of the Singapore Defence Force (1965–1966), and the Singapore Volunteer Corps (late 1950s–1965) before the independence of Singapore in 1965.{{cite news|url=http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article.aspx?articleid=straitstimes19660913.2.30&sessionid=fbdfaf741f884638878820b2919390ae&keyword=%22Brigadier+Campbell%22&lang=en&token=campbell%2cbrigadier|title=Defence commander sees cadet display|date=13 September 1966|work=Straits Times|page=4|access-date=22 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107020208/http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article.aspx?articleid=straitstimes19660913.2.30&sessionid=fbdfaf741f884638878820b2919390ae&keyword=%22Brigadier+Campbell%22&lang=en&token=campbell,brigadier|archive-date=2012-11-07|url-status=dead}} Campbell had been acting director since around 1968.{{cite news|url=http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article.aspx?articleid=straitstimes19891022.2.29.6&sessionid=907e458440074a598bd3598fe4a12ac2&keyword=%22Campbell%22+%22Brigadier%22&lang=en&search=advanced&fromdate=19890101&todate=19891231&articles=1&advertisements=1&illustrations=1&letters=1&obituaries=1&miscellaneous=1&newspaperTitles=biztimes%2cdailyadvertiser%2ceasterndaily%2cfreepress%2cmalayansatpost%2cmiddayherald%2csingchronicle%2csingdailynews%2csingfreepressa%2csingfreepressb%2csingweekherald%2cstoverland%2cstraitsadvocate%2cstraitschinherald%2cstraitseurasian%2cstraitsmail%2cstraitsobserver%2cstraitstelegraph%2cstraitstimes%2cstweekly%2ctoday%2cweeklysun&fuzzysearch=Off&token=campbell%2cbrigadier|title=Ex-army chief, BG Campbell, dies in Australia|date=22 October 1989|work=Straits Times|page=17|access-date=22 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107020153/http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article.aspx?articleid=straitstimes19891022.2.29.6&sessionid=907e458440074a598bd3598fe4a12ac2&keyword=%22Campbell%22+%22Brigadier%22&lang=en&search=advanced&fromdate=19890101&todate=19891231&articles=1&advertisements=1&illustrations=1&letters=1&obituaries=1&miscellaneous=1&newspaperTitles=biztimes,dailyadvertiser,easterndaily,freepress,malayansatpost,middayherald,singchronicle,singdailynews,singfreepressa,singfreepressb,singweekherald,stoverland,straitsadvocate,straitschinherald,straitseurasian,straitsmail,straitsobserver,straitstelegraph,straitstimes,stweekly,today,weeklysun&fuzzysearch=Off&token=campbell,brigadier|archive-date=2012-11-07|url-status=dead}} Colonel Kirpa Ram Vij was appointed as his successor.{{cite web|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/about_us/history/birth_of_saf/v12n02_history.html|title=History - 1966 - The Beginning of SAFTI (Volume 12 Issue 2)|last=Liew|first=Derek|date=7 February 2008|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Defence|access-date=16 March 2011}} According to sources, the position of "Director, General Staff" was considered similar to the position of the present-day CDF, and was equivalent to Chief of Army.{{cite news|url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110107-257017.html|title=In command of his life|last=Jonas|first=Patrick|date=January 7, 2011|work=AsiaOne|access-date=16 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707175600/http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110107-257017.html|archive-date=2011-07-07|url-status=live}} A news report from The Straits Times on Campbell's death refers to him as having been "army chief."

In 1974, Colonel Winston Choo was appointed Director, General Staff and promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General.{{cite press release|title=Appointment of Singapore's High Commissioner to South Africa|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs|date=25 July 2001|url=http://app.mfa.gov.sg/2006/press/view_press.asp?post_id=487|access-date=6 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020131039/http://app.mfa.gov.sg/2006/press/view_press.asp?post_id=487|archive-date=20 October 2007}} Prior to his appointment, Choo served as Head of Training and Head of Organisation and Plans at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). The title of Director, General Staff was renamed to Chief of the General Staff in 1976, and again in May 1990, the position was renamed to Chief of Defence Force. Choo was promoted to the rank of Major-General in 1978 and subsequently Lieutenant-General in 1988, when he was Chief of the General Staff. Choo retired from the SAF in 1992, after 18 years serving as the head of the SAF.{{cite press release|title=Appointment of Lt-Gen (Retd) Winston Choo as High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs|date=15 March 2000|url=http://app.mfa.gov.sg/2006/press/view_press.asp?post_id=266|access-date=6 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030103452/http://app.mfa.gov.sg/2006/press/view_press.asp?post_id=266|archive-date=30 October 2007}}

Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew described Goh Keng Swee as the de facto armed forces chief of staff when the latter was Minister for Defence.{{cite web|url=http://www.pmo.gov.sg/content/pmosite/mediacentre/speechesninterviews/ministermentor/2010/May/eulogy_by_ministermentorleekuanyewatthestatefuneralserviceforthe.html|title=Eulogy by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the State Funeral Service For The Late Dr Goh Keng Swee at the Singapore Conference Hall, Sunday 23 May 2010|last=Lee|first=Kuan Yew|publisher=Prime Minister's Office (Singapore)|access-date=6 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213103034/http://www.pmo.gov.sg/content/pmosite/mediacentre/speechesninterviews/ministermentor/2010/May/eulogy_by_ministermentorleekuanyewatthestatefuneralserviceforthe.html|archive-date=13 February 2011}} Goh had been responsible for evolving the SAF while serving as Minister for Defence from 1965 to 1967.{{cite news|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1108281/1/.html|title=Goh Keng Swee Command & Staff College unveiled|last=S Ramesh|date=1 February 2011|work=Channel NewsAsia|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205042931/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1108281/1/.html|archive-date=2011-02-05|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_630950.html|title=SAF institute named after Goh Keng Swee|last=Chow|first=Jermyn|date=2 February 2001|work=Straits Times|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205095914/http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_630950.html|archive-date=2011-02-05|url-status=live}}

Although Campbell and Vij have both held a position of similar authority, Choo is referred to as the first CDF in a number of MINDEF publications.{{cite news|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/army/army_news/News_Archive/2011/Mar2011/Signals_Anniversary_Relay1.html|title=The Singapore Army - News Archive - A Night To Remember – Signals 45th Anniversary Military Dining-In|last=Luo|first=Joel|date=7 March 2011|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Defence|access-date=10 March 2011|quote=LG (RET) Winston Choo, who was SAF's first Chief of Defence Force (1974 - 1992)}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/publications/cyberpioneer/news/2008/September/18sep08_news.html|title=SAF Joint Staff celebrates 25 years and beyond|last=Quek|first=Sherlyn|date=18 September 2008|publisher=Cyberpioneer|access-date=16 March 2011|quote=Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean was present, together with special guest, Lieutenant-General (LG) (Ret) Winston Choo, Singapore's first Chief of Defence Force (CDF).|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805010841/http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/publications/cyberpioneer/news/2008/September/18sep08_news.html|archive-date=2012-08-05|url-status=live}}

In the past, the position of Deputy Chief of the General Staff existed,{{cite news|url=http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article.aspx?articleid=straitstimes19820828.2.13&sessionid=2c169c4fd21d4adca670b7420eeb5f30&keyword=%22Deputy+Chief+of+General+Staff%22&lang=en&token=of%2cgeneral%2cchief%2cstaff%2cdeputy|title=Brigadier General for Home Affairs|date=28 August 1982|work=Straits Times|access-date=22 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107021415/http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article.aspx?articleid=straitstimes19820828.2.13&sessionid=2c169c4fd21d4adca670b7420eeb5f30&keyword=%22Deputy+Chief+of+General+Staff%22&lang=en&token=of,general,chief,staff,deputy|archive-date=2012-11-07|url-status=dead}} who was tasked to "[work] with troops on the ground,"{{cite news|url=http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article.aspx?articleid=straitstimes19860701.2.24.4&sessionid=8fcef15c715f4708b41133636e70e9cd&keyword=%22Mancharan+Singh+Gill%22&lang=en&token=singh%2cgill%2cmancharan|title=SAF promotes 273 of its best senior officers|date=1 July 1986|work=Straits Times|access-date=23 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107021453/http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article.aspx?articleid=straitstimes19860701.2.24.4&sessionid=8fcef15c715f4708b41133636e70e9cd&keyword=%22Mancharan+Singh+Gill%22&lang=en&token=singh,gill,mancharan|archive-date=2012-11-07|url-status=dead}} but there is no deputy position for the present-day CDF in the structure of the SAF.

class="wikitable"
Name ! Office ! In office ! Role immediately before office ! Ref
Goh Keng Swee | Minister for Defence | 1965–1967As Minister for Defence, Goh has been described by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as the de facto leader of the SAF. | Minister for Finance |
T. J. D. Campbell | Director, General Staff | 1968–1969 (acting) 1969–1970 | Principal, St. Stephen's School |
Kirpa Ram Vij | Director, General Staff | 1970–1974 | Director, Singapore Command and Staff College |
Winston Choo | Director, General Staff | 1974–1976 | Head of Training and Head of Organisation and Plans at the Ministry of Defence |
Winston Choo | Chief of the General Staff | 1976–1990 | Director, General Staff |

Since the creation of the CDF position in 1990, there have been 11 holders to the position, beginning with Winston Choo, who was already in office as Chief of the General Staff.

{{Officeholder table start

| showorder = y

| showimage = y

| officeholder_title = Chief of Defence Force

| showtermlenght = y

| showparty = n

| showpreviousoffice = y

| showaltofficeholder = y

| alt_officeholder_title = Later office

| showdefencebranch = y

| showref = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image = blank.png

| military_rank = Lieutenant-General

| officeholder = Winston Choo

| officeholder_sort = Choo, Winston

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1941

| died_year =

| term_start = May 1990

| term_end = 30 June 1992

| timeinoffice = 2 years

| defence_branch = Army

| previous_office = Chief of the General Staff

| alt_officeholder = Public sector (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image =

| military_rank = Lieutenant-General

| officeholder = Ng Jui Ping

| officeholder_sort = Ping, Ng Jui

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1948

| died_year = 2020

| term_start = 30 June 1992

| term_end = 1 July 1995

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1992|06|30|1995|07|01}}

| defence_branch = Army

| previous_office = Chief of Army

| alt_officeholder = Private sector

| ref = {{cite web|url=http://www.internationalpsa.com/about/pdf/AR2006/BoDirectors.pdf|title=Board of Directors|year=2006|publisher=PSA International|page=11|access-date=22 April 2011|quote=Lt-Gen (Ret) Ng holds a number of directorships in the private sector|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927153838/http://www.internationalpsa.com/about/pdf/AR2006/BoDirectors.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/about_us/history/birth_of_saf/v08n08_history.html|title=History - 1967 - School of Artillery|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Defence|access-date=6 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927094356/http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/about_us/history/birth_of_saf/v08n08_history.html|archive-date=2006-09-27|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/content/imindef/publications/cyberpioneer/news/2010/may/21may10_news3.print.html?Status=1|title=Glowing tributes to the SAF's founding father|last=Quek|first=Sherlyn|date=21 May 2010|publisher=Cyberpioneer|access-date=6 March 2011}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image = blank.png

| military_rank = Lieutenant-General

| officeholder = Bey Soo Khiang

| officeholder_sort = Khiang, Bey Soo

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1955

| died_year =

| term_start = 1 July 1995

| term_end = 1 April 2000

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1995|07|01|2000|04|01}}

| defence_branch = Air Force

| previous_office = Chief of Air Force

| alt_officeholder = Private sector (Singapore Airlines)

| ref = {{cite press release|title=Chief of Defence Force Change of Command Parade|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Defence|date=31 March 2000|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2000/mar/31mar00_nr.html|access-date=6 March 2011}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 4

| image = blank.png

| military_rank = Lieutenant-General

| officeholder = Lim Chuan Poh

| officeholder_sort = Poh, Lim Chuan

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1961

| died_year =

| term_start = 1 April 2000

| term_end = 1 April 2003

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2000|04|01|2003|04|01}}

| defence_branch = Army

| previous_office = Chief of Army

| alt_officeholder = Public sector (Ministry of Education, A*STAR)

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 5

| image = Ng Yat Chung detail, 050602-F-0193C-114.jpg

| military_rank = Lieutenant-General

| officeholder = Ng Yat Chung

| officeholder_sort = Chung, Ng Yat

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1961

| died_year =

| term_start = 1 April 2003

| term_end = 23 March 2007

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2003|04|01|2007|02|23}}

| defence_branch = Army

| previous_office = Chief of Army

| alt_officeholder = Private sector (Temasek Holdings, Neptune Orient Lines, Singapore Press Holdings)

| ref = {{cite press release|title=Change of Chief of Defence Force and Service Chiefs|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Defence|date=6 February 2003|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2003/feb/06jan03_nr4.html|access-date=6 March 2011}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 6

| image = Desmond Kuek.jpg

| military_rank = Lieutenant-General

| officeholder = Desmond Kuek

| officeholder_sort = Kuek, Desmond

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1963

| died_year =

| term_start = 23 March 2007

| term_end = 1 April 2010

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2007|02|23|2010|04|01}}

| defence_branch = Army

| previous_office = Chief of Army

| alt_officeholder = Public sector (Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, SMRT Corporation)

| ref = {{cite press release|title=Change of Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Army|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Defence|date=6 February 2007|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2007/feb/06feb07_nr.html|access-date=6 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528020330/http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2007/feb/06feb07_nr.html|archive-date=2007-05-28|url-status=live}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 7

| image = Neo Kian Hong.jpg

| military_rank = Lieutenant-General

| officeholder = Neo Kian Hong

| officeholder_sort = Hong, Neo Kian

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1964

| died_year =

| term_start = 1 April 2010

| term_end = 27 March 2013

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2010|04|01|2013|03|27}}

| defence_branch = Army

| previous_office = Chief of Army

| alt_officeholder = Public sector (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, SMRT Corporation)

| ref = {{cite press release|title=New Chief of Defence Force for the SAF|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Defence|date=1 April 2010|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2010/apr/01apr10_nr.html|access-date=6 March 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121225182556/http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2010/apr/01apr10_nr.html|archive-date=2012-12-25|url-status=live}}{{cite press release|title=Change in Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Army|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Defence|date=15 January 2010|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2010/jan/15jan10_nr.html |access-date= 6 March 2011}}{{cite press release |title= New CEO for SMRT |publisher= Channel NewsAsia |date= 18 April 2018 |url= https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/smrt-desmond-kuek-neo-kian-hong-new-ceo-10147140 |access-date= 18 April 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180418065909/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/smrt-desmond-kuek-neo-kian-hong-new-ceo-10147140 |archive-date= 2018-04-18 |url-status= live }}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 8

| image = Maj. Gen. Ng Chee Meng, Chief of Defence Force, Singapore Armed Forces.jpg

| military_rank = Lieutenant-General

| officeholder = Ng Chee Meng

| officeholder_sort = Meng, Ng Chee

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1968

| died_year =

| term_start = 27 March 2013

| term_end = 18 August 2015

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2013|03|27|2015|09|18}}

| defence_branch = Air Force

| previous_office = Chief of Air Force

| alt_officeholder = Minister for Education (Schools), Second Minister for Transport, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress

| ref = {{cite press release|title=New Chief of Defence Force for the SAF|publisher=Singapore Ministry of Defence|date=27 March 2013|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/press_room/official_releases/nr/2013/mar/27mar13_nr.html|access-date=27 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226081108/http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/press_room/official_releases/nr/2013/mar/27mar13_nr.html|archive-date=2013-12-26|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Neo |first1=Chai Chin |last2=Ng |first2=Kelly |title=CDF's retirement prompts speculation over entry to politics |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/chief-defence-force-lg-ng-chee-meng-retire-august |access-date=1 September 2021 |work=Today |date=31 July 2015}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 9

| image = Singapore Army Lieutenant General Perry Lim Cheng Yeow (Flickr id 38876138601).jpg

| military_rank = Lieutenant-General

| officeholder = Perry Lim

| officeholder_sort = Lim, Perry

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1972

| died_year =

| term_start = 18 August 2015

| term_end = 23 March 2018

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2015|09|18|2018|03|23}}

| defence_branch = Army

| previous_office = Chief of Army

| alt_officeholder = Private sector (Royal Golden Eagle)

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 10

| image = Lt. Gen. Melvyn Ong, Chief of Defence Force, Singapore Armed Forces.jpg

| military_rank = Lieutenant-General

| officeholder = Melvyn Ong

| officeholder_sort = Ong, Melvyn

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1975

| died_year =

| term_start = 23 March 2018

| term_end = 24 March 2023

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2018|03|23|2023|03|24}}

| defence_branch = Army

| previous_office = Chief of Army

| alt_officeholder = Public sector (Ministry of Defence)

| ref = {{Cite web |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2018/march/12mar18_nr |title=Change in Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Army |access-date=2018-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313031455/https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2018/march/12mar18_nr |archive-date=2018-03-13 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2018/march/23mar18_nr2 |title=New SAF Chief of Defence Force |access-date=2018-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327144628/https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2018/march/23mar18_nr2 |archive-date=2018-03-27 |url-status=live }}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 11

| image = Vice Admiral Aaron Beng, Chief of Defence Force of the Singapore Armed Forces, visit to the United States on October 8, 2024 (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = Vice-Admiral

| officeholder = Aaron Beng

| officeholder_sort = Beng, Aaron

| officeholder_note =

| born_year = 1982

| died_year =

| term_start = 24 March 2023

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2023|03|24}}

| defence_branch = Navy

| previous_office = Chief of Navy

| alt_officeholder = –

| ref = {{cite web |title=New SAF Chief of Defence Force |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2023/March/24mar23_nr |website=MINDEF Singapore |access-date=27 March 2023}}

}}

{{Officeholder table end}}

In their retirement citations from the Ministry of Defence,

• Both Bey Soo Khiang and Lim Chuan Poh were cited for having "positioned the SAF to meet the challenges in the 21st century" and for improving the SAF's capacity to use latest technology in advancing the forces' proficiency;
• Ng Yat Chung's retirement citation noted that he "successfully commanded the overall deployment of the SAF in peace support operations in East Timor" and disaster relief after both the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake;
• Desmond Kuek was cited for "[leading] the SAF's transformation into a modernised, integrated and networked fighting force" and "significantly [enhancing] the SAF's ability to deal effectively with the evolving security challenges".

{{Commons category|Chiefs of Defence Force of Singapore}}

{{Reflist|group="note"}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Chief of military by country}}

Singapore