118 RECEIVE DEFENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIPS

Technology enthusiast Alvin Khong never thought he would hack into computer systems and hijack transmitting information. This was his assigned task, as part of his five-month internship stint with Defence Science & Technology Agency's (DSTA's) InfoComm Infrastructure Programme Centre. But it was not for a malicious purpose of course.

"Using prototypes, I simulated the system penetration process to test the vulnerability of our own information technology (IT) security systems, so that we could devise better ways to protect them," explained the 22-year-old, who graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic three years ago with a diploma in IT.

Mr Khong is one of 118 recipients of scholarships from DSTA and DSO National Laboratories which aim to nurture a steady pool of defence scientists and engineers to help maintain Singapore's technological edge in defence and homeland security.

Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen presented the awards to the recipients at Orchard Hotel on 13 Jul. At the ceremony, he reminded the scholars of their pivotal roles in spearheading the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) modernisation efforts and designing the future of Singapore's defence technology architecture.

He said: "The pace of technological innovations is furious and obsolescence of existing systems a constant threat. Additionally, integration of new platforms will be increasingly complex to meet the needs of our expanded security environment. DSTA and DSO bridge this gap by providing customised solutions for the SAF."

Mr Khong, who received the DSTA Undergraduate Scholarship Award, will be pursuing a degree in Computer Science at Nanyang Technological University. As part of the four-year accelerated programme, he will also be reading a Masters at Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States.

Upon graduation, he looks forward to making the administrative and weapon systems of the SAF more efficient, reliable and error-free.

Mr Khong added that through his National Service - during which he got to work with DSTA engineers on a project - and internship, he has become more appreciative of the important role that DSTA plays in Singapore's defence ecosystem.

Echoing his view was Mr Shane Soh, a fellow recipient of the undergraduate scholarship award who will be pursuing a degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Cornell University in the US.

The 20-year-old said: "Technology used in military equipment such as the Load Bearing Vest protective gear, radar systems on our frigates and the SAR-21 rifle made me realise that defence engineering takes the discipline to its very limits.

"Your military hardware has to be hardy and this is the pinnacle of engineering, because you are building a product that can safeguard the peace and security of Singapore."

He aspires to boost the SAF's security systems when he returns from his overseas studies.

The ceremony saw 56 undergraduate scholarships given out, along with 31 DSTA Junior College Scholarships, 23 DSTA Post-graduate Scholarships and 8 DSO Post-graduate Scholarships.

One of the DSO Post-graduate Scholarship recipients, Mr Loe Chuan Wen, will be heading to the Imperial College in London, the United Kingdom, to pursue a doctorate in Mathematical Research.

Attracted to the mystique of cryptography - the analysis of codes and coding methods - when he was studying for his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mr Loe has been developing algorithms in DSO to secure the privacy and integrity of information belonging to the SAF.

The 28-year-old felt furthering his studies at this point will provide him with the invaluable insight needed to develop cutting-edge cryptography solutions to enhance the SAF's information security.

On the other hand, DSTA Post-graduate scholar Yeau Wenjie, 30, is the first scholar being sent to study Masters in Science in Space Systems Operations at the Naval Postgraduate School in the US.

"I feel excited and look upon it as a challenge, because space operations in Singapore's context is a relatively new field for us," he said.