Past leadership
Learn about past appointment holders in MINDEF.
Last updated 27 July 2025
Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)
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
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)
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
The Singapore Army
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
Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)
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
Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)
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