The RSAF bids a fond farewell to outgoing Chief of Air Force, MG Mervyn Tan, and welcomes BG Kelvin Khong as our new Chief! Here, we take a look back at the achievements that defined MG Mervyn's tenure as Chief.

MG Mervyn joined the SAF in 1990 and is a Fokker-50 Pilot by training. During his time in the RSAF, he served the organisation with distinction, and held several senior command and staff appointments, including CO 121 SQN; Head Air Plans; COMD Air Defence and Operations Command (ADOC), and Director Military Intelligence and Chief Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence.

Under MG Mervyn’s leadership, the RSAF maintained a high level of operational readiness to defend and safeguard Singapore's sovereignty, and achieved mission success across a series of operations. Operations include the successful conduct of air defence operations during the DPRK-USA Singapore Summit, the alleged bomb threat aboard the Scoot flight TR634; and the participation in the coalition efforts to combat terrorism in the Middle East.

MG Mervyn also led the RSAF to successfully conduct Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations both regionally and internationally. During the USS John S McCain and the JBB De Rong collisions in 2018, the RSAF deployed helicopter and transport aircraft in support of the search efforts. In the immediate aftermath of the Sulawesi earthquake and Hurricane Harvey, RSAF personnel responded swiftly and brought much needed relief to the affected victims and their families.

Guiding the RSAF’s transformation to support the Next-Generation RSAF, MG Mervyn also led the attainment of full operational capability for the Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Surface-to-air PYthon-5 and DERby (SPYDER) Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) system. He also oversaw the acquisition of the H225M Medium Lift and CH-47F Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopters, A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter platforms, and established the Air Warfare Centre to develop game-changing air warfare concepts.

MG Mervyn also saw the importance of leveraging technology and innovation in order to build the Next Generation RSAF, and set up the RSAF Innovation Office in order to drive innovation across the organisation.

Sharing about MG Mervyn’s support of the innovation community, Chief Innovation Officer, COMD ADOC, BG Gaurav Keerthi, shared, “His impact on innovation has been fundamental. In the last two years, we have changed so many of the small cultural things that have been in the way for innovators. It’s been fascinating to watch how much trust he gives to the innovation community and I think that his most important gift to the innovation community is to call it Project SWIFT, to accept that it’s at the same level of cultural change as other major projects. That is incredible recognition for the group and I think in years to come, I hope he sees the innovation community really thriving because of what he started today.”

Apart from his operational achievements, MG Tan also oversaw the RSAF50 celebrations, ensuring that they will be remembered in years to come. From the spectacular aerial displays to the exhibitions brought to the heartlands, much effort and thought were put into the planning and preparations for the events to celebrate 50 years of safe skies with fellow Singaporeans.

The characteristics that defined MG Mervyn were his sharp intellect, decisiveness, and his dedication towards guiding and shaping the RSAF to safeguard Singapore’s skies. However, he would be most remembered for his care and concern towards the airmen and women of the RSAF.  ME5 Ng Wei Rong, former Staff Assistant to MG Mervyn, said, “He is a leader who cares and leads with his heart. He would always make the effort to visit his men and women on standby duty during festive occasions. It is the little gestures that he does that shows the people around him that he cares. He would never compromise on the dialogue time with personnel whenever he visits ground units because he very much values the time he has with the people there. He takes personal interest in solving the problems of those people.”

Thank you, MG Mervyn, for guiding us with a steadfast and nurturing hand over your tenure as Chief, and we wish you fair winds and blue skies for your endeavours ahead.