Past leadership

Minister for Defence

2011 – 2025 — Ng Eng Hen

2003 – 2011 — Teo Chee Hean

1995 – 2003 — Tony Tan Keng Yam

1994 – 1995 — Lee Boon Yang

1991 – 1994 — Yeo Ning Hong

1982 – 1991 — Goh Chok Tong

1979 – 1982 — Howe Yoon Chong

1970 – 1979 — Goh Keng Swee

1968 - 1970 — Lim Kim San

Minister of Interior & Defence

1967 – 1968 — Lim Kim San

1965 - 1967 — Goh Keng Swee

Minister of Defence & Security

1965 - 1965 — Goh Keng Swee

Chief of Defence Force

2018 - 2023 — Melvyn Ong

2015 - 2018 — Perry Lim

2013 - 2015 — Ng Chee Meng

2010 - 2013 — Neo Kian Hong

2007 - 2010 — Desmond Kuek

2003 - 2007 — Ng Yat Chung

2000 - 2003 — Lim Chuan Poh

1995 - 2000 — Bey Soo Khiang

1992 - 1995 — Ng Jui Ping

1990 - 1992 — Winston Choo

Chief of the General Staff (also in direct command of the Singapore Army)

1976 - 1990 — Winston Choo

Director General Staff (also in direct command of the Singapore Army)

1974 - 1976 — Winston Choo

1970 - 1974 — Kirpa Ram Vij

1968 - 1970 — Thomas James Duncan Campbell

1968 - 1968 — Kirpa Ram Vij

1966 - 1968 — Tan Teck Khim

Chief of Army

2022 - 2025 — David Neo

2018 - 2022 — Goh Si Hou

2015 - 2018 — Melvyn Ong

2014 - 2015 — Perry Lim

2011 - 2014 — Ravinder Singh

2010 - 2011 — Chan Chun Sing

2007 - 2010 — Neo Kian Hong

2003 - 2007 — Desmond Kuek

2000 - 2003 — Ng Yat Chung

1998 - 2000 — Lim Chuan Poh

1995 - 1998 — Han Eng Juan

1992 - 1995 — Lim Neo Chian

1990 - 1992 — Ng Jui Ping

1990 - 1990 — Boey Tak Hap

Chief of Navy

2020 - 2023 — Aaron Beng

2017 - 2020 — Lew Chuen Hong

2014 - 2017 — Lai Chung Han

2011 - 2014 — Ng Chee Peng

2007 - 2011 — Chew Men Leong

2003 - 2007 — Ronnie Tay

1999 - 2003 — Lui Tuck Yew

1996 - 1999 — Richard Lim Cherng Yih

1992 - 1996 — Kwek Siew Jin

1991 - 1992 — Teo Chee Hean

1990 - 1991 — James Leo

Commander, RSN

1985 - 1990 — James Leo

1975 - 1985 — Khoo Eng An

Commander, Maritime Command

1970 - 1975 — James Aeria

1969 - 1970 — Geoffrey Vernon Dennis

1969 - 1969 — Mohamed Bin Mohd Salleh

Commander, Singapore Naval Volunteer Force

1966 - 1968 — Jaswant Singh Gill

Chief of Air Force

2019 - 2024 — Kelvin Khong Boon Leong

2016 - 2019 — Mervyn Tan Wei Ming

2013 - 2016 — Hoo Cher Mou

2009 - 2013 — Ng Chee Meng

2006 - 2009 — Ng Chee Khern

2001 - 2006 — Lim Kim Choon

1998 - 2001 — Raymund Ng Teck Heng

1995 - 1998 — Goh Yong Siang

1992 - 1995 — Bey Soo Khiang

1990 - 1992 — Michael Teo Eng Cheng

Commander, RSAF

1985 - 1990 — Michael Teo Eng Cheng

Deputy Commander, RSAF

1984 - 1985 — Michael Teo Eng Cheng

1982 - 1984 — Gary Yeo Ping Yong

1980 - 1982 — Michael Teo Eng Cheng

Director Air Staff

1977 - 1980 — Liu Ching Chuan

1976 - 1977 — Murray Alexander Turnbull

1975 - 1976 — D J Rhodes

1975 - 1975 — W E Kelly

1973 - 1975 — John Francis Langer

Commander, Singapore Air Defence Command

1970 - 1972 — Ee Tean Chye