BG NG CHEE MENG IS NEW AIR FORCE CHIEF

Brigadier-General (BG) Ng Chee Meng took over the appointment of Chief of Air Force from Major-General (MG) Ng Chee Khern in a Change-of-Command Parade at Tengah Air Base on 10 Dec.

In his farewell speech, MG Ng outlined the various technological and operational advances that characterised the transformation of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) into a full-spectrum 3rd Generation air force. He also cited two recently-concluded exercises, Ex Forging Sabre in the US and Ex Wallaby in Australia, as key examples of the RSAF's interoperability with the land and sea elements of the SAF.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my staff members, both past and present... it was from your unwavering support that I gained courage, confidence and conviction," he said, adding that the well-trained and dedicated personnel of the RSAF were instrumental in facilitating such fundamental transformations over a short period of time.

At the parade, which was witnessed by Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Desmond Kuek and attended by senior Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officers and servicemen from the RSAF, MG Ng reviewed a Guard-of-Honour and six marching contingents formed by airmen from the various RSAF Commands. The parade also included a static display of all aircraft types in the RSAF.

BG Ng Chee Meng, who was previously Deputy Chief of Air Force, joined the SAF in Dec 1986. He was awarded the SAF Overseas Training Award in 1987 and the SAF Postgraduate Scholarship in 2002, and holds a Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering) from the US Air Force Academy, USA, and a Master of Arts (International Relations) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA.

His prior senior command and staff appointments in the SAF include Commanding Officer of the RSAF's 144th Squadron; Head of Air Plans Department; Commander of Changi Air Base; and Director of Joint Operations.

MG Ng Chee Khern began his military career in 1984, and has served the SAF with excellence. After assuming the appointment of Chief of Air Force on 24 Mar 2006, MG Ng led the most fundamental restructuring of the RSAF since its inception, characterised by a wide array of changes in the RSAF's organisational structure, as well as the development of its capabilities and people.

MG Ng managed the introduction of key competences such as the F15-SG fighter aircraft and G550-Airborne Early Warning aircraft as part of the 3rd Generation transformation. In the area of defence diplomacy, MG Ng forged close working ties between the RSAF and air forces around the world.

The change of command is part of the SAF's continuous process of leadership renewal. MG Ng, who is an SAF (Overseas) and President's scholar, will be returning to the Administrative Service.

10 Dec 09 - New Chief of Air Force Takes Over Today