New Chief of Army Takes Command

Outgoing Chief of Army, Major-General (MG) Goh Si Hou (left) handing over the Command Symbol to incoming Chief of Army, Brigadier-General (BG) David Neo (right).

The Singapore Army welcomed its new Chief of Army (COA) today as Major-General (MG) Goh Si Hou handed over the command to Brigadier-General (BG) David Neo at a Change of Command Parade held this evening at Pasir Laba Camp.

In his farewell speech to the Army during the parade, MG Goh expressed his gratitude towards the men and women of the Army, and his confidence that the Army will continue to give strength and confidence to Singapore, and remain Ready, Decisive and Respected. "My confidence lies most importantly in the quality and commitment of all our people, active and NS. My own journey in our Army tells me that it is with strong ownership that we have built our Army, each generation making it stronger for the next," he said. "When I look at our younger leaders today, I see the same sense of purpose and ownership I experienced in my own journey.  I am confident that our Army is in good hands."

The incoming COA, BG David Neo, 44, joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1996 and is a Commando Officer. BG Neo has served in various command appointments in the SAF, including Commanding Officer First Battalion Singapore Guards, Commander 2nd Singapore Infantry Brigade and Commander 3rd Singapore Division. He has also held key staff appointments, including Deputy Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Plans), Head Joint Plans and Transformation Department and Director of Joint Operations, where he oversaw the SAF's contributions to the national fight against COVID-19. He was also the Programme Director of the Pioneer Generation Office, the founding Group Chief of the Silver Generation Office under the Agency for Integrated Care, Deputy Secretary (Technology) and Future Systems and Technology Architect at the Ministry of Defence.

The outgoing COA, MG Goh, 44, has held the post of Chief of Army since 21 March 2018, and has served the SAF with distinction since 1997. Under his leadership, the Army completed key operational milestones for the 3rd Generation Army, and laid the foundations for its Next-Generation transformation to meet emerging security needs and future manpower resource challenges.^[1] He led MINDEF's National Service Review Committee to expand operational contributions and leverage expertise of our national servicemen in the Next-Generation SAF, and to better meet the needs of servicemen through enhancing touchpoints in training, fitness and administration.  MG Goh also led Army's efforts to build a strong safety culture, to achieve improved safety outcomes while maintaining high training standards. During MG Goh's tenure, he ensured that the Army maintained operational readiness and force generation amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and led the Army to support the Whole-of-Nation fight against COVID-19 through the deployment of several Task Forces to support Whole-of-Government efforts^[2].

This change is part of the continuing process of leadership renewal in the SAF. The parade was witnessed by the Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Melvyn Ong, and attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the SAF, as well as servicemen and women from the Singapore Army. In his tribute speech, LG Ong thanked MG Goh Si Hou for his sterling leadership of the Army and his contributions over the past 25 years. He said, "Thank you for your leadership. You led with humility, dignified authority, courage, and you always backed your words with actions."

The Ministry of Defence and the SAF expresses deep appreciation to MG Goh for his sterling leadership and distinguished service, and welcomes BG David Neo as the new Chief of Army.

^[1] This included the re-organisation of Army’s Island Defence Task Force and Special Operations Task Force to strengthen homeland security and counter-terrorism capabilities, and the establishment of key building blocks of Army’s future fighting force including the integration of intelligence and strike developments under the new Headquarters Sense & Strike.

^[2] Task Forces were deployed to support health surveillance and contact tracing, medical and logistical support, management of migrant worker dormitories and community care facilities, and the recent Home Recovery Programme.

The new Chief of Army, BG Neo taking his oath at the Change of Command Parade this evening.

Outgoing Chief of Army, MG Goh, inspecting the parade.