First naval officer to be Chief of Defence Force will add value to SAF but has ‘big shoes to fill’: Analysts
Rear-Admiral Aaron Beng (left) will replace Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong (right) as Chief of Defence Force from March 24, 2023.
Navy chief Rear-Admiral Aaron Beng Yao Cheng has been appointed as the new Chief of Defence Force for SAF
He will be the first Navy officer to command the SAF
He will be taking over from Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong Su Kiat, who has been helming the force since 2018
One observer said that the incoming chief's expertise in the Navy will add value as Singapore procures new naval assets
Another said that the meritocratic selection process by SAF would have equipped him to handle defence-related challenges that would include cybersecurity attacks and the “persistent threat” of terrorism
