NEW CHIEF TAKES OVER HELM OF AIR FORCE

Brigadier-General (BG) Hoo Cher Mou took over the reins of Chief of Air Force (CAF) from Major-General (MG) Ng Chee Meng in a change of command ceremony held at Tengah Air Base on 25 Mar. The change of command was part of the Singapore Armed Force's (SAF's) continuing process of leadership renewal.

BG Hoo takes over as the RSAF commemorates its 45th anniversary this year. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Biochemistry) and a Master of Arts (Biochemistry) from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Twenty-nine years into his military career, BG Hoo has clocked various appointments such as Commander Air Defence and Operations Command, Chief of Staff - Air Staff and Chief of Staff - Joint Staff.

At the ceremony, BG Hoo received the symbol of command from MG Ng. He also received his letter of appointment from Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Lieutenant-General (LG) Neo Kian Hong and recited the assumption of command oath, witnessed by about 760 guests which included senior SAF commanders and foreign officials.

MG Ng, who hands over his CAF appointment after three years and four months, will take over as CDF on 27 Mar. During his stint as CAF, MG Ng oversaw the operationalisation of key capabilities such as the F-15SG fighter aircraft, the G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft, the S-70B Sikorsky naval helicopter as well as the Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

Under his charge, the RSAF had sent UAVs to Afghanistan to augment the International Security Assistance Force's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in Uruzgan; S-70B naval helicopters, Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Super Puma helicopters to the Gulf of Aden in support of anti-piracy operations and C-130 transport aircraft and KC-135R air-to-air refuelling aircraft to Christchurch for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations.

In his farewell speech during the parade, MG Ng spoke about the many roles of CAF, including being responsible for mission success in all of the RSAF's missions, and in the area of operations and capability development. "However, the most strategic role of my watch as Chief was to create an environment in which our people can thrive," said MG Ng.

He also thanked his family, the Ministry of Defence and SAF leadership, his chiefs of staff, formation commanders and "brothers-in-arms" from the Army, Navy and Joint Services.

"Looking at the Air Force today, I am extremely proud of our achievements and how far we have come in the short 45 years of our existence. We are a strong and respected Air Force in the region, and I dare say that we can hold our own even with the best Air Forces in the world," he said.

MG Ng also thanked the RSAF's airmen and women for their dedication, hard work and sacrifice. "You have kept our skies safe, and contributed to the peace and security of our loved ones." His voice heavy with emotion as he quoted a proverb by Mr Zubir Said, who composed the Singapore national anthem, MG Ng said: "Hold up the sky of the land in which you live, and always, always, keep the air force above all."