First naval officer to be Chief of Defence Force will add value to SAF but has ‘big shoes to fill’: Analysts
SINGAPORE — Navy chief Aaron Beng Yao Cheng will be the new Chief of Defence Force, becoming the first Navy officer to command the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in what an observer described as a positive signal that any capable officer can "shoot for the highest positions" in the military.

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
SINGAPORE — Navy chief Aaron Beng Yao Cheng will be the new Chief of Defence Force, becoming the first Navy officer to command the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in what an observer described as a positive signal that any capable officer can "shoot for the highest positions" in the military.
From March 24, Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Beng, 41, will be taking over from Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong Su Kiat who has been helming SAF since 2018, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said in a press release on Wednesday (Feb 22).
RAdm Beng was appointed as Chief of Navy in March 2020. He joined SAF in 2000 and has held other appointments as Commanding Officer of the Formidable-class frigate RSS Intrepid, director of the Defence Policy Office and Chief of Naval Staff, among others.
Since the Chief of Defence Force role was established in 1990, 10 officers have held that position, all of whom were from the Republic of Singapore Air Force or the Singapore Army.
Defence expert David Boey said that the appointment of RAdm Beng to the top position in SAF's leadership reflects the armed forces’ confidence in successfully inculcating a "joint mindset" among its officers, that there is a collaboration among the various services across the armed forces.
Mr Boey, who used to be a defence correspondent with national daily The Straits Times and has been actively blogging on defence-related matters since 2009, said: "The SAF pays particular attention to keeping its people aware of how various arms come together to defend Singapore.
“For example, officer cadets train together during the joint term in the Officer Cadet School, which introduces officer cadets to the spectrum of operations that the SAF is capable of executing, while forging professional bonds with future officers whom they will work with during their SAF career.
"As officers rise through the ranks, they will participate in SAF war games of increasing size, scale and complexity.
“Such exposure adds to their appreciation of the SAF's spectrum of capabilities.”
Through these, SAF’s senior leadership should know very well what the armed forces can do in peacetime and during operations, with insights that go above and beyond what they learned in their own service — be it in the army, navy, air force or digital and intelligence service, Mr Boey added.
"It is a positive signal that capable officers, regardless of the colour of the uniform he or she wears, can shoot for the highest positions in the SAF."
“Singapore has always been a maritime nation. Rear-Admiral Beng's tenure as Chief of Defence Force will come at a time when Mindef and SAF reflect on options for replacing ageing naval assets.Mr David Boey, who used to cover defence-related news”
He also said that RAdm Beng's experience in commanding the Navy will add value and sharpen the nation's naval power.
“Singapore has always been a maritime nation. RAdm Beng's tenure as Chief of Defence Force will come at a time when Mindef and SAF reflect on options for replacing ageing naval assets such as the Victory-class missile corvettes and Endurance-class tank landing ships," Mr Boey said.
RAdm Beng’s first-hand insights and expertise in naval warfare will then add significant value to Mindef’s decision in procuring the latest naval assets.
“This will serve as a springboard for sharpening our Navy's capabilities in delivering naval power on and from the sea," Mr Boey added.
“Regardless of which service the appointed Chief of Defence Force comes from, the level of training and exposure to different threats will have fully equipped the officer to step up to the role.Mr Nicholas Fang, director for security and global affairs at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs”
Mr Nicholas Fang, director for security and global affairs at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said that the appointment is "noteworthy" and reflects Mindef’s meritocratic selection process.
“The selection of Chief of Defence Force is meritocratic in nature, so technically, anyone who is capable regardless of their service can step up to serve the position.”
The focus is not the officer's service unit, but rather how he or she steps up and handles defence-related challenges in the future, he added.
Such challenges include hybrid threats, which combine military and non-military means, such as cybersecurity attacks and the “persistent threat” of terrorism.
“Regardless of which service the appointed Chief of Defence Force comes from, the level of training and exposure to different threats will have fully equipped the officer to step up to the role,” Mr Fang added.
Mindef said that under RAdm Beng’s leadership, the Navy pursued organisational changes and capability development to prepare for the future.
These included operations to protect Singapore’s territorial waters, as well as government-wide efforts to improve inter-agency security coordination at sea.
He also led the inter-agency crisis management group that deals with maritime security risks such as terrorist threats, and oversaw maritime security operations during major national events such as the National Day celebrations.
The outgoing Lieutenant-General Ong, 47, first assumed his appointment as Chief of Defence Force in March 2018.
He has held various senior command and staff appointments, including Chief Guards Officer and Chief of Army, as well as heading the Joint Plans and Transformation Department that oversees SAF’s longer-term transformation efforts.
He also commanded an SAF contingent that oversaw earthquake relief operations alongside the New Zealand Defence Force when a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch in 2011.
The ministry added that Lieutenant-General Ong has been “instrumental in fostering good defence relations and professional collaborations with foreign militaries, raising the SAF's international standing and positioning it as a valuable defence partner regionally and internationally”.
For instance, he had led the establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Information Facility, an inter-agency facility that brings together like-minded countries to share intelligence and provide early warning against terrorism in the region.
“Mindef expresses its deep appreciation to Lieutenant-General Ong for his sterling leadership and outstanding contributions to the SAF.”
Lieutenant-General Ong will continue to serve in the public service after he steps down from the SAF, Mindef added.
With RAdm Beng’s move, RAdm Sean Wat Jianwen, Fleet Commander of the Singapore Navy, will assume the appointment of Chief of Navy on March 10.
These changes are part of the continuing process of leadership renewal in SAF, Mindef said.
RAdm Wat joined SAF in 2002 and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science (mathematics and philosophy), a Master of Science (management science and engineering) from Stanford University in the United States, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.
During the course of his military career, RAdm Wat held several appointments as Commanding Officer of the Formidable-class frigate RSS Supreme and as director of the Defence Policy Office.
Mr Fang said that the incoming Chief of Defence Force will have "very large shoes to fill".
“The current Chief of Defence Force has led the nation through many challenges such as Covid-19 and leading the contingent to New Zealand during the Christchurch earthquake.
"While it is great that we have our first Chief of Defence Force from the Navy, the focus should be on how he steps up to the role and addresses all threats... I have full confidence that the officer chosen is able and ready to face them,” Mr Fang added.