19 Jun 2015

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL NG CHEE MENG Chief of Defence Force Armed Forces

LG Ng was appointed Chief of Defence Force on 27 March 2013. He joined the SAF in December 1986, was awarded the SAF Overseas Training Award (Graduating) in 1987 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1991. In 1999, he attended the Singapore Command and Staff College and graduated as the top student. In 2002, he was awarded the SAF Postgraduate Award and pursued a Master of Arts (International Relations) at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, United States of America.

A fighter pilot by vocation, LG Ng held various key command and staff appointments over 28 years of service. These included Commanding Officer, 144 Squadron; Commander, Changi Air Base; Deputy Head, Joint Communications and Information Systems Department; Head Air Plans Department; Director Joint Operations; and Deputy Chief of Air Force. He also held the concurrent appointment as Military Private Secretary to the Minister for Defence from December 1995 to July 1996.

In his last appointment as the Chief of Air Force, LG Ng led the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) to a high level of operational readiness and built on the successful Third Generation RSAF transformation. Initiatives were put in place to train and develop its people to meet future demands, especially in the fields of operations and engineering. Key capabilities were also delivered in the form of the F-15SG Strike Eagle, G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft, S-70B naval helicopter, Heron-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and renewed air defence concepts and weapon systems. His steadfast leadership enabled the RSAF to grow as a highly professional force with a strong safety record and ethos of people development. LG Ng also forged close working relations between the RSAF and air forces around the world, and actively engaged the community through outreach programmes and partnerships with schools.

LG Ng has held several directorship appointments in public and private organisations. He currently sits on the Boards of Singapore Technologies Engineering, Defence Science and Technology Agency, and Jurong Town Corporation.

For his outstanding contributions to the SAF, LG Ng was awarded the prestigious Public Administration Medal (Gold) (Military) in 2011. He was also 19 Jun 2015 conferred the Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand in 2011, the Bintang Swa Bhuwana Paksa Utama (Indonesia) in 2012 and the Darjah Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang Yang Amat Gemilang Darjah Pertama (Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang - First Class) (Brunei) in 2013. In 2015, LG Ng was conferred the Darjah Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera (Honorary Malaysian Armed Forces Order for Valour (First Degree), Gallant Commander of the Malaysian Armed Force), Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (Thailand) and the Commandeur De La Légion D'Honneur (French Order of the Legion of Honour with the rank of Commander)

LG Ng and his wife, Michelle, have two daughters, Sara and Elisabeth.