Former Director of International Cooperation at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, United States (US) Department of Defense, Mr Keith Webster was conferred the Singapore Defence Fellowship (SDF) by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at an investiture held at the Ministry of Defence this morning. 

The SDF was established in 2018 following a review of the Singapore Defence Technology Distinguished Fellowship. The award recognises the contributions of defence policy and administrative officials who have furthered bilateral defence ties and technology cooperation with Singapore. The SDF was awarded to Mr Webster in recognition of his efforts in strengthening technology cooperation between Singapore and US defence establishments, which is a key pillar of our bilateral relations. As the Director of International Cooperation from 2012 to 2017, Mr Webster advocated for and helped to secure the release of important US technologies to Singapore, which contributed towards the interoperability of both countries' militaries and bolstered the Singapore Armed Forces' operational capabilities and professional development. 

On receiving the award, Mr Webster said, "Singapore and the US share a common world and regional view which enables a very solid partnership demonstrated by our deep cooperation over many years. Military cooperation, which I am honoured to have contributed to over the past ten years, is evidenced in the historic and continuing mutual supply of defence technology, facilities for military training, cooperative research, and military exercises, with a goal of addressing a range of issues from counter-terrorism to maritime security. Singapore is a trusted and valued partner of the US and we are grateful for your friendship."

Singapore and the US enjoy an excellent and long-standing defence relationship based on shared strategic perspectives, underscored by the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding, the 2005 Strategic Framework Agreement, and the 2015 enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement. The two defence establishments interact regularly through high-level visits, policy dialogues, joint military trainings and exercises, defence technology cooperation and other professional exchanges.