Melvyn Ong

Melvyn Ong PPA(E) PPA(P)
Ong in 2019
Chief of Defence Force
Incumbent
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 46–47) Singapore
Education	Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) National Junior College
Alma mater	London School of Economics Indonesian Army Command and General Staff College
Military service
Allegiance	Singapore
Branch/service	Singapore Army
Years of service	1994–present
Rank	Lieutenant-General
Commands	Commander, 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade (2010–2011) Head, Joint Plans and Transformation Department Chief Guards Officer (2014–2015) Chief of Army (2015–2018) Chief of Defence Force (2018–present)

Melvyn Ong Su Kiat PPA(E) PPA(P) (born 1975) is a Singaporean lieutenant-general^[1] current serving as the Chief of Defence Force since 2018.^[2] Before his promotion to CDF, he served as the Chief of Army between 2015 and 2018.

Education[]

Ong was educated in Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and National Junior College.^[1] 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.^[1]

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.^[1]

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.^[1]

Awards and decorations[]

• Public Administration Medal, (Gold) (Military) - PPA(E), in 2018.^[1]
• Public Administration Medal, (Silver) (Military) - PPA(P), in 2012.^[1]
• Long Service Medal (Military), in 2019.
• Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (20 Years) Medal
• Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (10 Years) Medal with 15 year clasp
• Singapore Armed Forces Good Service Medal
• Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Service Medal
• Bintang Kartika Eka Paksi Utama (1st Class), Indonesia
• Order of the Crown of Thailand (1st Class), Thailand in 2018
• Darjah Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera (Honorary Malaysian Armed Forces Order for Valour (First Degree)), in 2018
• The Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang (1st Class) in 2019
• Basic Parachutist Badge
• Thailand Airborne Badge
• Indonesia Airborne Badge
• Guards Tab

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.^[1]

References[]