David Neo

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = David Neo

| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hans|梁振伟}}}}

| native_name_lang =

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|list=PJG PPA(E) PPA(G) PBS}}

| image = David Neo with supporters at PAP Victory Parade in Tampines GRC 20250504 135121 (cropped)1.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Neo in 2025

| office = Minister for Culture, Community and Youth

| status = Acting

| term_start = 23 May 2025

| term_end =

| primeminister = Lawrence Wong

| predecessor = Edwin Tong

| successor =

| primeminister1 = Lawrence Wong

| minister1 = Desmond Lee

| alongside1 = Janil Puthucheary

| predecessor1 = Chee Hong Tat (2020)

| successor1 =

| office2 =

| alongside2 =

| predecessor2 =

| primeminister2 =

| successor2 =

| term_start2 =

| term_end2 =

| office3 =

| primeminister3 =

| minister3 =

| term_start3 =

| term_end3 =

| constituency_MP4 = Tampines GRC

| parliament4 = Singapore

| term_start4 = 3 May 2025

| term_end4 =

| predecessor4 = PAP held

| successor4 =

| majority4 = 6,392 (4.65%)

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|47|2025|5|21}}

| birth_place = Singapore

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = People's Action Party

| alma_mater = University of Illinois (BEng, BA)
Stanford University (MS)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MBA)

| occupation = Politician

| spouse =

| children = 1

| allegiance = {{flag|Singapore}}

| branch = {{army|Singapore}}

| serviceyears = 1996–2025{{cite web|url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2022/February/11feb22_nr2|date=11 February 2022|access-date=15 February 2022|title=Change in Chief of Army}}

| rank = Major-General

| commands = Chief of Army
Deputy Secretary (Technology)/Future Systems and Technology Architect
Director of Joint Operations
Head, Joint Plans and Transformation Department
Commander, 3rd Division
Commander, 2nd Singapore Infantry Brigade
Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion Singapore Guards
Company Commander, 5th Company, 1st Commando Battalion

| awards =

| width = 250

}}

David Neo Chin Wee {{Post-nominals|list=PPA(G) PBS}} ({{lang-zh|s=梁振伟|p=Liáng Zhènwěi}}; born 1977 or 1978){{cite web |title=Newcomers Jeffrey Siow, David Neo named acting ministers in Cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/cabinet-reshuffle-jeffrey-siow-david-neo-chief-army-acting-minister-5144081 |website=www.channelnewsasia.com |access-date=29 May 2025}} is a Singaporean politician and retired major-general who served as Chief of Army between 2022 and 2025. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Army, he was serving as Deputy Secretary (Technology) at the Ministry of Defence. Neo is the first Commando to serve as Chief of Army.

An elected Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Tampines North division of Tampines GRC, Neo has been serving as acting minister for culture, community and youth, and senior minister of state for education since 23 May 2025.

Early life

Neo was brought up by his uncle and aunt after his mother died when he was five.{{cite web |title=PAP Tampines candidate David Neo shares about losing mother at 5 & why he likes to use 'It's a great day' on Instagram |url=https://mothership.sg/2025/04/david-neo-tampines-candidate-intro/ |website=mothership.sg |access-date=29 May 2025}}

He attended Victoria School and Victoria Junior College before graduating from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Engineering degree with honours in electrical engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in economics.{{Cite web |title=SPEECH DAY 2022 - CELEBRATING 146 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE |url=https://www.victoria.moe.edu.sg/files/VS-146-Speech-Day-e-Booklet.pdf |work=Victoria School |language=en}}

He subsequently went on to complete a Master of Business Administration degree in business administration, management and operations at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Master of Science degree in operations research at Stanford University under the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship conferred by the Public Service Commission, and the Singapore Armed Forces Postgraduate Scholarship in 2012.

He also attended the Indonesian Army Command and Staff College (SESKOAD) in 2007 and attained the Top Foreign Student – Best Thesis.

Career

Neo was the programme director of the Pioneer Generation Office and the founding group chief of the Silver Generation Office under the Agency for Integrated Care. He was also a member of the board of governors of Singapore Polytechnic from April 2015 to April 2018 and alternate director in advanced material engineering from June 2013 to June 2016.

Neo is a board member of Temasek Defense Systems Institute since March 2021 and a director in DSTA since April 2021.{{Cite web |title=Major-General David Neo |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/about-us/leadership-biographies/chief-of-army |access-date=28 February 2025 |website=MINDEF |language=en}}

= Military career =

Neo enlisted into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1996 and served in the Singapore Army as a Commando officer.

Throughout his military career, he has held many appointments and roles, from command tours to staff appointments. The staff appointments include: Training Development Officer from April 2001 to December 2002; Staff Officer (Plans)/Joint Operations Department from November 2004 to August 2006; Chairman, SICUS Committee NDP 2008 from August 2007 to August 2008; Deputy Director (Planning)/Head of Strategic Plans from January 2010 to June 2012; Chairman, Show Committee NDP 2014; Head of Joint Plans and Transformation Department from October 2014 to July 2016; Director of Joint Operations from May 2019 to March 2021; and Deputy Secretary (Technology) in March 2021.

As Head of Joint Plans and Transformation Department and Director of Joint Operations, he had overseen the SAF's contributions to the national fight against COVID-19.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=11 February 2022 |title=Mindef deputy secretary David Neo to take over as Chief of Army on March 10: Mindef {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mindef-deputy-secretary-david-neo-to-take-over-as-chief-of-army-on-march-10-mindef |access-date=1 July 2022 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}

His command appointments include: Company Commander, 5th Company, 1st Commando Battalion from May 2003 to November 2004; Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, Singapore Guards from January 2008 to December 2009; Commander, 2nd Singapore Infantry Brigade from August 2013 to October 2014; Commander, 3rd Division from July 2018 to June 2019.

On 10 March 2022, he succeeded Goh Si Hou as the Chief of Army. On 1 July, Neo was promoted to the rank of Major-General.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2022/June/30jun22_nr|title=Officers, Military Experts, Warrant Officers and Defence Executive Officers Recognised at MINDEF/SAF Promotion Ceremonies 2022|url-status=live|date=30 June 2022|access-date=1 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701022238/https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2022/June/30jun22_nr|archive-date=1 July 2022|website=MINDEF}}

Neo stepped down from his position of Chief of Army with Commander of 3rd Singapore Division, Cai Dexian, taking over on 21 March 2025,{{Cite web |title=Change in Chief of Army |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/news-and-events/latest-releases/25feb25_nr |access-date=28 February 2025 |website=MINDEF |language=en}} sparking speculation that he would contest in the 2025 Singaporean general election.

= Political career =

On 12 April 2025, Neo was spotted with Minister Masagos Zulkifli in Tampines, with Masagos later confirming that Neo would be joining the People's Action Party's (PAP) team in the constituency.{{Cite news |date=12 April 2025 |title=GE2025: Ex-army chief David Neo joins PAP’s Tampines GRC team in run-up to election |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ge2025-ex-army-chief-david-neo-spotted-with-paps-tampines-team-again |access-date=13 April 2025 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}} Neo was later confirmed to be running as a PAP candidate in Tampines GRC in the 2025 general election.{{Cite news |date=16 April 2025 |title=GE2025: Ex-army chief David Neo, academic Charlene Chen confirmed among PAP’s Tampines GRC slate |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ge2025-ex-army-chief-david-neo-academic-charlene-chen-confirmed-among-paps-tampines-grc-slate |access-date=16 April 2025 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}

In Tampines GRC, Neo and his PAP team was challenged by the Workers' Party (WP), National Solidarity Party (NSP) and the People's Power Party (PPP) in a four way fight.{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Pei Ting |date=2025-02-23 |title=GE2025: PAP looks set to face 4-way fight for Tampines GRC against WP, NSP, PPP |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ge2025-pap-looks-set-to-face-4-way-fight-for-tampines-grc-against-wp-nsp-ppp |access-date=2025-04-03 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}} The PAP team won the contest with 52% of the votes, being its narrowest GRC victory in the election and the WP received about 48% of the votes.{{cite web |author1=Aqil Hamzah |author2=Shermaine Ang |author3=David Sun |author4=Eddino Abdul Hadi |date=4 May 2025 |title=GE2025: PAP retains Tampines GRC in 4-way fight, wins Tampines Changkat SMC |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ge2025-pap-retains-tampines-grc-in-4-way-fight-wins-tampines-changkat-smc |access-date=6 May 2025 |website=The Straits Times |language=en}} Neo was elected as a Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC.

Personal life

Neo is married with a son.

Awards and decorations

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=COVID-19 Resilience Medal (CRM) Ribbon.png|width=100}} Public Administration Medal, (Gold) (COVID-19)
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Pingat Pentadbiran Awam (Emas) (Tentera).png|width=100}} Public Administration Medal, (Gold) (Military) - PPA(E)
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Pingat Pentadbiran Awam (Gangsa) (Tentera).png|width=100}} Public Administration Medal, (Bronze) (Military) - PPA(G)
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Long Service Medal (Military) ribbon (from 2006).png|width=100}} Long Service Medal (Military)
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=COVID-19 Resilience Medal (CRM) Ribbon.png|width=100}} The COVID-19 Resilience Medal
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (20 Years) Medal ribbon.png|width=100}} Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (20 Years) Medal
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (10 Years) Medal ribbon with clasp.png|width=100}} Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (10 Years) Medal with 15 year clasp
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Singapore Armed Forces Good Service Medal ribbon.png|width=100}} Singapore Armed Forces Good Service Medal
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Kartika Eka Paksi Utama.gif|width=100}} Army Meritorious Service Star, 1st Class - Indonesia (2023){{Cite web |last=Media |first=Kompas Cyber |date=19 September 2023 |title=Jenderal Dudung Anugerahkan Bintang Kartika Eka Paksi Utama ke Kepala Staf AD Singapura, Ini Alasannya |url=https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2023/09/19/11394201/jenderal-dudung-anugerahkan-bintang-kartika-eka-paksi-utama-ke-kepala-staf |access-date=19 September 2023 |website=KOMPAS.com |language=id}}
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=GER Bundeswehr Honour Cross Gold ribbon.svg|width=100}} Gold Cross of Honour of the German Armed Forces
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of the Crown of Thailand - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|width=100}} Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand (2024){{cite book|title=พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศ เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ให้แก่นายทหารต่างประเทศ [พลตรี เดวิด นิว (Major-General David Neo)]|url= https://ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/documents/45233.pdf|access-date= 14 October 2024|language=TH}}

References

External links

[https://www.pap.org.sg/representative/david-neo/ Official profile]
[https://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/mr-david-neo David Neo] on Prime Minister's Office
[https://www.parliament.gov.sg/mps/list-of-current-mps/mp/details/david-neo David Neo] on Parliament of Singapore

{{s-ttl | title = Minister for Culture, Community and Youth
(Acting)

| years = 2025–present}}

{{s-ttl | title = Senior Minister of State for Education

| years = 2025–present

| alongside = Janil Puthucheary}}

{{s-bef | before = Baey Yam Keng

| before2 = Cheng Li Hui

| before3 = Masagos Zulkifli

| before4 = Koh Poh Koon

| before5 = Desmond Choo

}}

{{s-ttl | title = Member of Parliament for
Tampines GRC