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Aaron Beng
Aaron Beng
	Vice Admiral Aaron Beng in 2024
Born	1981 (age 43–44); Singapore
Allegiance	Singapore
Service / branch	Republic of Singapore Navy
Years of service	2000–present
Rank	Vice-Admiral
Commands	Chief of Defence Force; Chief of Navy; Chief of Staff – Naval Staff; Head, RSN Strategy Office; Director of the Defence Policy Office, Ministry of Defence; Fleet Commander; Squadron Commander, Formidable-class frigate Squadron ; Commanding Officer, RSS Intrepid
Alma mater	Yale University (BS); Naval War College
Children	2

Aaron Beng Yao Cheng PPA(E) PPA(G) is a Singaporean vice-admiral and Chief of Defence Force.^[1]^[2] Prior to his appointment as Chief of Defence Force, he served as Chief of Navy between 2020 and 2023. He is the first naval officer to serve as Chief of Defence Force, and the first to hold the rank of Vice-Admiral in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).^[3]

Early life and education

Beng was born in Singapore in 1981. His father, Arthur Beng Kian Lam, was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Fengshan SMC between 1984 and 1988 for the ruling People's Action Party.

Upon his graduation from Hwa Chong Institution in 1999, Beng was awarded the President’s Scholarship and the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship^[2] to study at Yale University, where he majored in economics and electrical engineering sciences, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree.^[2]

Military career

Beng enlisted into the SAF in 2000.^[2] He was Commanding Officer of the frigate RSS Intrepid and subsequently Commanding Officer of the Frigate Squadron.^[2] He was also Director of the Defence Policy Office.^[2]

Beng was appointed Fleet Commander in March 2019, before his appointment as Chief of Staff – Naval Staff in November 2019.^[4] He was appointed Chief of Navy on 23 March 2020, where he served until 10 March 2023.

Beng was appointed Chief of Defence Force on 24 March 2023. He was the first Chief of Navy to serve as Chief of Defence Force.^[5]^[6]^[7] He was promoted as Vice-Admiral on 1 July 2023.^[8]

Awards and decorations

Public Administration Medal (Military) (Bronze) in 2017
Public Administration Medal (Military) (Gold) in 2023
Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (10 Years) Medal with 15 year clasp
Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (20 Years) Medal
Singapore Armed Forces Good Service Medal
Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Service Medal
Ordre national du Mérite (Officier) in 2022
Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) in 2023
Bintang Jalasena Utama (Navy Meritorious Service Star, 1st Class) in 2023^[9]
Courageous Commander of The Most Gallant Order of Military Service (P.G.A.T.) in 2023^[10]
Royal Brunei Navy Command Badge^[11]

References

^ "Change in Chief of Navy" (PDF). MINDEF – National Archives of Singapore. 25 February 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Aaron Beng named new Chief of Navy as part of leadership renewal". Channel News Asia. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
^ ZachariahCorrespondent, Natasha Ann (28 June 2023). "Chief of Defence Force to be first naval officer promoted to vice-admiral". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 3 August 2023. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^ Lim, Min Zhang (25 February 2020). "Republic of Singapore Navy to get new chief from March | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
^ "RADM Aaron Beng becomes first Navy chief to be appointed Singapore's Chief of Defence Force". CNA. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^ ANI (25 February 2023). "Singapore Chief of Navy to become Chief of Defence Force | The Australian Naval Institute". Retrieved 3 August 2023.
^ "First naval officer to be Chief of Defence Force will add value to SAF but has 'big shoes to fill': Analysts". TODAY. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
^ "1,196 MINDEF/SAF Personnel to be Promoted". www.mindef.gov.sg. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
^ "Melebihi Panggilan Tugas, Panglima Singapura Disematkan Bintang Jalasena Utama". Indonesian Armed Forces Information Centre (in Indonesian). 20 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
^ "Agong kurnia 293 pingat kepada anggota tentera, Panglima ATM terima PGAT". Berita Harian (in Malay). 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
^ "10 Dec 20 - Adding a Boost to Close Ties". www.mindef.gov.sg. Retrieved 9 July 2023.

Military offices
Preceded by Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong	11th Chief of Defence Force 24 March 2023 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Lew Chuen Hong	Chief of Navy 23 March 2020 – 10 March 2023	Succeeded by Sean Wat