Desmond Kuek Bak Chye
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Desmond Kuek Bak Chye was the 6th Chief of Defence Force (CDF) (b. 28 August 1963) of the Singapore Armed Forces
. He relinquished his appointment to Major General
Neo Kian Hong
(who himself relinquished the appointment of Chief of Army) on 31 Mar 2010.
He received his then-appointment as Chief of Defense Force on 23 March 2007, taking over from Lieutenant General Ng Yat Chung
, having previously held the appointment of Chief of Army (COA). On 28 June 2007, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General
, effective 1 July 2007.
(SAF) on 21 December 1981 after completing his studies at Anglo-Chinese School
and Anglo-Chinese Junior College
, and was awarded the prestigious SAF Overseas Scholarship in 1982. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Hons) (Engineering Science) and a Master of Arts Degree (Engineering Science) from the University of Oxford
, UK. He also holds a Master of Public Administration Degree (Macro Economics, Statistics) from Harvard University
, US.
Kuek received his military training in Singapore as well as in the US and UK. In 1985, he attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course in Fort Benning
, Georgia, US, where he was awarded the Distinguished Allied Leadership Graduate. He completed Armoured Reconnaissance Officer Cadet Course and Armour Officer Advanced Course subsequently. He also topped both the Company Tactics Course and Battalion Tactics Course conducted locally at SAFTI. He has completed Basic Airborne Course and Underwater Diving Course. In 1991, he attended the Command and Staff Course at Camberley Staff College, United Kingdom; after completing a series of junior command and instructional appointments in Armour, as well as a staff appointment in the Joint Operations and Planning Directorate.
Gen Kuek also held concurrently the appointment of Military Personal Secretary to the Minister for Defence
for two years from 1989 to 1991; and was an Honorary Aide de Camp to the President of Singapore
from 1992 to 1994. In 2000, he chaired the Executive Committee to organise the millennium National Day celebrations, which included the National Day Parade at the Padang, the Carnival at Marina Bay and the Maritime Review – a series of events commended by the President as “a stupendous success”.http://www2.apan-info.net/pacc/Brigadier%20Desmond%20Kuek%20Bak%20Chye2.doc He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Military) (Gold) in 2002.
Before assuming the post of Chief of Defence Force, Gen Kuek was appointed Chief of Army on 1 April 2003. As COA, he steered the Army towards organisational excellence, transforming its force structure to enhance operational efficiency and eliciting peak performance from servicemen through the L.I.V.E (Leadership and Learning, Image and Identity, Values and positive Experience) movement. He significantly improved the Army's combat capability, especially in the areas of command and control, firepower and urban operations.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Desmond Kuek Bak Chye was the 6th Chief of Defence Force (CDF) (b. 28 August 1963) of the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
. He relinquished his appointment to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Neo Kian Hong
Neo Kian Hong
Lieutenant-General Neo Kian Hong is the Chief of Defence Force and former Chief of the Singapore Army. He was Chief of Army from March 20, 2007 to March 26, 2010....
(who himself relinquished the appointment of Chief of Army) on 31 Mar 2010.
He received his then-appointment as Chief of Defense Force on 23 March 2007, taking over from Lieutenant General Ng Yat Chung
Ng Yat Chung
Ng Yat Chung 伍逸松, was Singapore's 5th Chief of Defence Force from 1 April 2003 to 23 March 2007. He was an artillery officer. Ng was an alumnus of Victoria School and Hwa Chong Junior College, and was also a recipient of the SAF Overseas Scholarship. He read mathematics at Cambridge University and...
, having previously held the appointment of Chief of Army (COA). On 28 June 2007, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
, effective 1 July 2007.
Education
Kuek joined the Singapore Armed ForcesSingapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
(SAF) on 21 December 1981 after completing his studies at Anglo-Chinese School
Anglo-Chinese School
The Anglo-Chinese School ; is a family of Methodist schools in Singapore, and Indonesia.The name is usually abbreviated as "ACS", with the junior college as "ACJC", and its students and alumni referred to as "ACSians" , or "ACS boys" .ACS was the first school...
and Anglo-Chinese Junior College
Anglo-Chinese Junior College
Anglo-Chinese Junior College in Singapore opened in 1977 and is the junior college arm of the Anglo-Chinese School family of Methodist schools. ACJC offers the standard two-year pre-university programme, with students taking the GCE 'A' Levels in their second year...
, and was awarded the prestigious SAF Overseas Scholarship in 1982. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Hons) (Engineering Science) and a Master of Arts Degree (Engineering Science) from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, UK. He also holds a Master of Public Administration Degree (Macro Economics, Statistics) from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, US.
Kuek received his military training in Singapore as well as in the US and UK. In 1985, he attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course in Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia, US, where he was awarded the Distinguished Allied Leadership Graduate. He completed Armoured Reconnaissance Officer Cadet Course and Armour Officer Advanced Course subsequently. He also topped both the Company Tactics Course and Battalion Tactics Course conducted locally at SAFTI. He has completed Basic Airborne Course and Underwater Diving Course. In 1991, he attended the Command and Staff Course at Camberley Staff College, United Kingdom; after completing a series of junior command and instructional appointments in Armour, as well as a staff appointment in the Joint Operations and Planning Directorate.
Career
In the course of his military career, Gen Kuek went on to command the 41st Singapore Armoured Regiment in 1992, the 4th Singapore Armoured Brigade in 1994 and the 3rd Singapore Combined Arms Division in 1998. He also held command of the 54th Singapore Armoured Brigade, an operationally ready National Service Brigade, for a major overseas exercise in 1993. He has also held a number of key staff appointments in the Ministry of Defence and SAF. As Head of the Defence Studies Department in the Ministry’s Policy Office from 1993–94, he was responsible for defence policy research and information management. As the Assistant Chief of General Staff (for Operations) from 1995–97, he contributed to the high level of operational readiness and planning in the Army. He was appointed the Director of the Joint Intelligence Directorate in the SAF from November 2000 to March 2003, and concurrently held the appointment of Chief of Staff (General Staff) from Sep 2002 to March 2003.Gen Kuek also held concurrently the appointment of Military Personal Secretary to the Minister for Defence
Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
The Ministry of Defence is a ministry of the Government of Singapore entrusted with overseeing the national defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. It is the headquarters of the Singapore Armed Forces...
for two years from 1989 to 1991; and was an Honorary Aide de Camp to the President of Singapore
President of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
from 1992 to 1994. In 2000, he chaired the Executive Committee to organise the millennium National Day celebrations, which included the National Day Parade at the Padang, the Carnival at Marina Bay and the Maritime Review – a series of events commended by the President as “a stupendous success”.http://www2.apan-info.net/pacc/Brigadier%20Desmond%20Kuek%20Bak%20Chye2.doc He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Military) (Gold) in 2002.
Before assuming the post of Chief of Defence Force, Gen Kuek was appointed Chief of Army on 1 April 2003. As COA, he steered the Army towards organisational excellence, transforming its force structure to enhance operational efficiency and eliciting peak performance from servicemen through the L.I.V.E (Leadership and Learning, Image and Identity, Values and positive Experience) movement. He significantly improved the Army's combat capability, especially in the areas of command and control, firepower and urban operations.