New Chief of Air Force Takes Command

Outgoing Chief of Air Force Major-General (MG) Mervyn Tan Wei Ming (left) handing over the command symbol to Incoming Chief of Air Force Brigadier-General (BG) Kelvin Khong Boon Leong (right) at the Change of Command Parade held at Paya Lebar Air Base today.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) welcomed its new Chief of Air Force (CAF) this evening. At the Change of Command Parade held at Paya Lebar Air Base, Brigadier-General (BG) Kelvin Khong Boon Leong received the Air Force command symbol from outgoing CAF Major-General (MG) Mervyn Tan Wei Ming. 
 
At the parade, MG Tan reviewed two Guard of Honour and six marching contingents formed by airmen and women from the various RSAF Commands. The parade also featured a static display of the RSAF air and ground assets that safeguard Singapore's skies.
 
Reflecting on his tenure as CAF, MG Tan paid tribute to the airmen and women of the RSAF who had walked this journey with him and thanked them for their hard work, commitment, and sacrifice. He also expressed confidence that what they had accomplished will allow the Air Force to welcome the future from a position of strength, and to chart the next bound of their transformation into the Next Generation RSAF with greater confidence. 
 
The new CAF, BG Khong, 43, joined the SAF in 1995 and has served in various command and staff positions in the SAF. An F-15SG pilot by training, BG Khong was the Commanding Officer of the first F-15SG squadron in Singapore – 149 Squadron. He has also held several key appointments in the RSAF, including Head Air Plans; Commander Air Combat Command; Head Air Operations; Chief of Staff-Air Staff; and Chief of Staff-Joint Staff. BG Khong has played a significant role in the modernisation of the RSAF, and also taken part in a range of RSAF operations, exercises and training detachments. 
 
The outgoing CAF, MG Tan, has served the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) with distinction since 1990. Under his leadership as CAF, the RSAF has maintained a high level of operational readiness to defend and safeguard Singapore's sovereignty, and achieved mission success across a full spectrum of operations. MG Tan also guided the RSAF's transformation to support the Next Generation SAF, including leading the RSAF to the attainment of full operational capability for the Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Surface-to-air PYthon-5 and DERby (SPYDER) Ground-Based Air Defence system, and positioned the RSAF for the future through the acquisition of the H225M Medium Lift and CH-47F Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopters, A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter platforms. 
 
This change of command is part of the SAF's leadership renewal process. The parade was witnessed by Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong Su Kiat and attended by senior MINDEF and SAF officers, as well as airmen and women from the RSAF. 

MG Mervyn Tan inspecting the Guard of Honour contingents.

BG Kelvin Khong taking his oath as the new Chief of Air Force in the presence of Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong Su Kiat, at the Change of Command Parade earlier today.