Melvyn Ong

Melvyn Ong
Ong in 2019
Born	1975 (age 49–50) Singapore
Allegiance	Singapore
Service / branch	Singapore Army
Years of service	1994–2023
Rank	Lieutenant-General
Commands	Chief of Defence Force Chief of Army Chief Guards Officer Head, Joint Plans and Transformation Department Commander, 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade
Alma mater	London School of Economics (BS, MS)

In this Chinese name, the family name is Ong.

Melvyn Ong Su Kiat
Simplified Chinese	王赐吉
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wáng Cìjí

Melvyn Ong Su Kiat PJG PPA(E) PPA(P) (born 1975) is a Singaporean retired lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2018 and 2023.[1]

Education

Ong was educated at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and National Junior College, before being awarded the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Overseas Scholarship in 1994 to study at the London School of Economics, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science with second class honours degree. He also completed a Master of Science degree in economics at the London School of Economics in 1998.[2]

Ong attended the Indonesian Army Command and General Staff College in Bandung in 2005. He also completed the United States Army's Infantry Officer Course in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1998.

Military career

Ong enlisted in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in January 1994 and was commissioned as an infantry officer in October that year.

Ong has held various appointments in the SAF, including the Commander of the 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade from 2010 to 2011, and Head of the Joint Plans and Transformation Department.

In 2011, Ong led the Singapore team which assisted in rescue operations and provided humanitarian aid to the victims of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand, and helped to establish the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre in 2014.[3] He was also Chairman of the 2015 National Day Parade Executive Committee.[2]

Ong served as Chief Guards Officer from 18 June 2014 to 14 August 2015.[4] He succeeded Perry Lim as Chief of Army on 14 August 2015,[2][5] and was promoted to the rank of Major-General on 1 July 2016.[6] He served in that position until 21 March 2018.

Ong was appointed Chief of Defence Force on 23 March 2018,[7] and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General on 1 July 2018.[8] He served in that position until 24 March 2023, where he was succeeded by Aaron Beng.

Non-military career

In addition to his career in the SAF, Ong is also serving in the Singapore Administrative Service under the Dual Career Scheme. He was Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Early Childhood Development Agency between 2013 and 2014.[4]

He became the Permanent Secretary for Defence Development at the Ministry of Defence on 1 June 2023, succeeding Chan Heng Kee.[9] On 1 January 2024, he had also assumed the role of Permanent Secretary (Development) at the Ministry of National Development.[10]

Awards and decorations

Ong is awarded the Commander of the Legion of Merit by Admiral John C. Aquilino, commander, United States Indo-Pacific Command on June 1, 2023.

Lieutenant-General Ong has received the following awards:[4]

• Meritorious Service Medal (Military) - PJG[11]
• Public Administration Medal, (Gold) (Military) - PPA(E)
• Public Administration Medal, (Silver) (Military) - PPA(P)
• Long Service Medal (Military)
• Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (20 Years) Medal
• Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (10 Years) Medal with 15 year clasp
• Singapore Armed Forces Good Service Medal
• Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Service Medal
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Elephant[12][13]
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand[14]
• Grand Meritorious Military Order Star, 1st Class - Indonesia[15]
• Army Meritorious Service Star, 1st Class - Indonesia[16]
• Courageous Commander of The Most Gallant Order of Military Service (P.G.A.T.)[17]
• The Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang, 1st Class (D.P.K.T.)[18]
• Officer (Military division) of the Order of Australia (A.O.)[19]
• Commander of the Legion of Merit, USA[20]

Personal life

Ong is married to Nicole Lynn McCully[21] and they have three children.[22]

References

1. "New SAF Chief of Defence Force". www.mindef.gov.sg.
2. "Change in Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Army". MINDEF Official Releases. MINDEF. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
3. "New Chief of Army Melvyn Ong takes command". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
4. "SAF Leadership". MINDEF. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
5. "Chief of Defence Force Ng Chee Meng will retire after 29 years in SAF". Channel News Asia. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
6. "Chief of Defence, Army chief and Air Force chief receive promotions". The Straits Times. June 30, 2016.
7. "Singapore appoints new defence, army chiefs". CNA.
8. "Defence chief heads SAF promotion list". The Straits Times. June 29, 2018.
9. "Ex-chief of defence force Melvyn Ong to be permanent secretary for defence development at Mindef". The Straits Times. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
10. "Public Service Division announces permanent secretary appointments from Jan 1". CNA. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
11. "733 MINDEF/SAF Personnel Recognised with the National Day Awards". Mindef Singapore. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
12. ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ให้แก่นายทหารต่างประเทศ ๑. พลโท เมลวิน ออง (Melvyn Ong) ๒. พลอากาศตรี เคลวิน คอง บุน เหลียง (Kelvin Khong Boon Leong) (PDF) (in Thai). Retrieved 23 September 2023.
13. "Perm Secretary (Defence Development) LG (RET) Melvyn Ong was presented the Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant". @mindefsg on Twitter. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
14. "ผบ.สส. มอบเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ไทยให้ ผบ.สส. สิงคโปร์". สวัสดีนิวส์ (in Thai). 24 May 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
15. "Panglima TNI Sematkan Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama Kepada Lieutenant General Melvyv Ong". tni.mil.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 June 2023.
16. Puspen TNI (30 April 2018). "Panglima TNI Terima Kunjungan Kehormatan dan Menyematkan Tanda Kehormatan Kepada Panglima Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura". Puspen TNI (in Indonesian). Retrieved 12 September 2022.
17. "Menyampaikan Anugerah Darjah Kepahlawanan Angkatan Tentera (DKAT)". @msabu_official on Instagram (in Malay). Retrieved 9 June 2023.
18. Lim Min Zhang (15 July 2019). "Chief of Defence Force Melvyn Ong conferred top Brunei award". The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
19. "Happy New Year from the Australian High Commission". anza.org.sg. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
20. "CDRUSINDOPACOM Presents Lt. Gen. Melvyn Ong with Legion of Merit". DVIDS. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
21. "Her Majesty Audience Ceremony | Brunei's No.1 News Website". www.brudirect.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
22. "SAF Leadership". 2016-03-03. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2023-02-23.

Military offices
Preceded by Lieutenant-General Perry Lim	10th Chief of Defence Force 23 March 2018 - 24 March 2023	Succeeded by Rear-Admiral Aaron Beng
Preceded by Major-General Perry Lim	Chief of the Singapore Army 14 August 2015 – 21 March 2018	Succeeded by Brigadier-General Goh Si Hou