Melvyn Ong
Melvyn Ong Su Kiat | |
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![]() Ong in July 2018 | |
Chief of Defence Force | |
Assumed office 23 March 2018 | |
Preceded by | Perry Lim |
Chief Of Army | |
In office 14 August 2015 – 21 March 2018 | |
Preceded by | Perry Lim |
Succeeded by | Goh Si Hou |
Personal details | |
Born | 1975 (age 48–49) Singapore |
Alma mater | Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) National Junior College London School of Economics Indonesian Military Academy |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1994–present |
Rank | ![]() |
Commands |
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Melvyn Ong Su Kiat | |||||||
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Simplified Chinese | 王赐吉 | ||||||
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Melvyn Ong Su Kiat PPA(E) PPA(P) is a Singapore army general and the current Chief of Defence Force of the Singapore Armed Forces as of 23 March 2018.[1] Before promotion to CDF, he was the Chief of the Singapore Army until 21 March 2018. He holds the rank of Lieutenant-General.[2]
Education
Ong was educated in Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and National Junior College.[2] He received the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Overseas Scholarship in 1994 to study at the London School of Economics (LSE), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Second Class Honours). He also completed a Master of Science in economics at the LSE in 1998.[3]
Ong attended the Indonesian Army Command and General Staff College in Bandung in 2005.[4] He also completed the United States Army's Infantry Officer Course in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1998.[2]
Military career
Ong enlisted in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in January 1994 and was commissioned as an infantry officer in October that year. He has held various appointments in the SAF, including the Commander of the 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade from 2010 to 2011, and Head of the Joint Plans and Transformation Department. In 2011, he led the Singapore team which assisted in rescue operations and provided humanitarian aid to the victims of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand, and helped to establish the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre in 2014.[5] He also chaired the executive committee of the 2015 National Day Parade.[3] He served as Chief Guards Officer from 18 June 2014 to 14 August 2015.[2]
Ong succeeded Perry Lim as the Chief of the Singapore Army on 14 August 2015.[3][6]
Ong was promoted to the rank of Major General on 1 July 2016.[7]
Ong stepped down as COA on 21 March 2018 and is appointed as CDF on 23 March 2018.[8]
Ong was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General on 1 July 2018.[9]
Non-military career
In addition to his career in the SAF, Ong is also serving in the Singapore Administrative Service under a dual-career scheme. Between 2013 and 2014, he was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Early Childhood Development Agency, which was jointly created by the Ministry of Social and Family Development and Ministry of Education.[2]
Awards and decorations
Long Service Medal (Military), in 2019.
Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (10 Years) Medal with 15 year clasp
Bintang Kartika Eka Paksi Utama (1st Class), Indonesia
Darjah Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera (Honorary Malaysian Armed Forces Order for Valour (First Degree)), in 2018
- File:SAF Parachute (Basic).png Basic Parachutist Badge
- Thailand Airborne Badge
- Indonesia Airborne Badge
Personal life
Ong is married to Nicole Lynn McCully. They have three children, Gabrielle Lynn Ong, Ryan Joshua Ong Sheng-En and Euan David Ong Yi-En [2]
References
- ^ "New SAF Chief of Defence Force". www.mindef.gov.sg.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "SAF Leadership". MINDEF. MINDEF. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ^ a b c "Change in Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Army". MINDEF Official Releases. MINDEF. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ "MINDEF Singapore". www.mindef.gov.sg.
- ^ "New Chief of Army Melvyn Ong takes command". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Chief of Defence Force Ng Chee Meng will retire after 29 years in SAF". Channel News Asia. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ "Chief of Defence, Army chief and Air Force chief receive promotions". The Straits Times. June 30, 2016.
- ^ "Singapore appoints new defence, army chiefs". CNA.
- ^ "Defence chief heads SAF promotion list". The Straits Times. June 29, 2018.
- Living people
- Singaporean people of Chinese descent
- Chiefs of Defence Force (Singapore)
- Chiefs of the Singapore Army
- Alumni of the London School of Economics
- Anglo-Chinese School alumni
- National Junior College alumni
- Recipients of the Pingat Pentadbiran Awam
- Recipients of the Long Service Medal (Military) (Singapore)