NEW COMMANDER AT MARITIME SECURITY TASK FORCE

Rear Admiral (RADM) Harris Chan took over as Commander Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF), following a change of command ceremony held at Tuas Naval Base on 5 Aug. At the ceremony witnessed by Chief of Navy RADM Ng Chee Peng, RADM Chan was handed the MSTF symbol of command - a golden conch shell - by outgoing commander RADM Jackson Chia.

RADM Chia, who called his time at the MSTF a privilege, thanked his staff who had worked hard to implement necessary changes in order to improve work processes within the task force. Expressing his appreciation to all, RADM Chia said: "I had a core leadership team who had the courage and perseverance to lead the change in their respective domains. Today, we have built a strong Corps, ready for operations 24/7."

He added: "We must continue to work together. Collaboration is our comparative advantage to any future crises in the fast-changing and increasing complex world."

Before ending his speech, RADM Chia also expressed his fullest confidence in RADM Chan's ability to lead the MSTF to greater heights: "RADM Chan has great intellectual capacities and the right convictions. He is among our best qualified to lead the MSTF, following a successful tour of duty in the Gulf of Aden."

RADM Chia assumed command of the MSTF in 2009. He enlisted in December 1987 and was awarded the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Overseas Training Award (Academic). Since then, he has held a variety of appointments first as a Gunnery Officer, and Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, and later, as a Principal Warfare Officer. He has also been Commanding Officer (CO) of RSS Vigour (missile corvette) and RSSFormidable (frigate). He is now Head Naval Operations.

RADM Chan also spoke highly the outgoing commander: "He (RADM Chia) has brought MSTF to unprecedented heights and unparalleled scales of achievements...(and it) owes a lot to your sacrifice, wisdom and leadership."

At his first address as Commander MSTF, RADM Chan promised to focus on the people in the task force. "I will do my best to make sure that I will continue to conduct regular nurturing and engagement forums, meet you in dialogues on board your ships and in your squadrons," said RADM Chan.

"I will pay special attention to your training and education as we build the new maritime security domain expertise under the Military Domain Expert Scheme (MDES)," said RADM Chan. Introduced in late 2009, the MDES allows SAF personnel to develop deep specialisations in key military domains such as engineering and military intelligence, up to the age of 60.

RADM Chan comes into his new position after his deployment as Commander Combined Task Force 151 in the Gulf of Aden from April to June 2011. He has also been CO of missile corvettes RSSVigilance and RSSVictory and Deputy Commander Coastal Command - the precursor to the MSTF. RADM Chan, who enlisted in 1989, was a recipient of the prestigious SAF Overseas Scholarship.

The MSTF arose from a restructuring of the former Navy Coastal Command in 2009. It brings together the SAF and other national maritime agencies such as Police Coast Guard, Maritime Port Authority, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Singapore Customs to better respond to maritime challenges. The conch shell alludes to this critical capability of the MSTF to call upon various national forces and assets to protect the country's maritime security interests and safeguard its waters.

The ceremony was attended by well over 300 Republic of Singapore Navy personnel as well as senior officers from foreign navies.