SINGAPORE – Tan Chorh Chuan, a outstanding chief in biomedical science, public well being and analysis coverage, will retire from the Administrative Service on Sept 1.
He will relinquish his roles as Permanent Secretary of National Research and Development (NRD), and Permanent Secretary of the Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office (S&TPPO), which each come beneath the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
“I would like to thank Chorh Chuan for his outstanding and impactful contributions to the Public Service,” stated Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing in a July 30 assertion by the Public Service Division (PSD).
“He has served with distinction to strengthen our capabilities in the areas of healthcare, higher education, research and innovation.”
Tan, a renal doctor by coaching, was appointed to his present roles in 2023, and offered strategic management in uplifting the Public Service’s science, expertise and innovation capabilities, having formed and steered the nation’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 planning, in keeping with the PSD.
He additionally contributed to efforts to align nationwide analysis and innovation investments with long-term strategic priorities, whereas fostering nearer collaboration throughout authorities, academia and trade to handle complicated coverage and operational challenges, it stated.
Tan has held varied key appointments within the medical and educational fields, in addition to within the public sector.
As then-director of medical providers within the Ministry of Health (MOH) from 2000 to 2004, he performed an instrumental position in main the general public well being response to the 2003 extreme acute respiratory syndrome epidemic.
He served because the deputy chairman on the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) from 2004 to 2017, and president of the National University of Singapore from 2008 to 2017.
He was appointed the manager director of the MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT), and concurrently as MOH’s chief well being scientist from 2018 to 2023. He was appointed chairman of MOHT in 2023, and in addition served as chairman of the Heathier SG Implementation Office from 2022 to 2024.
He can also be an completed newbie painter.
In recognition of his contributions to Singapore throughout healthcare, biomedical analysis, larger schooling and the Public Service, Tan was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2015, the Distinguished Service Order in 2022 and the Public Service Star (Covid-19) in 2023.
Tan will proceed in his appointment because the non-executive chairman at A*STAR and MOHT’s chairman.
Replacing Tan’s roles in PMO is newly appointed Permanent Secretary Ng Chad-Son.
Ng Chad-Son will assume the roles of Permanent Secretary of National Research and Development, and the Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office within the Prime Minister’s Office from Sept 1.
PHOTO: PUBLIC SERVICE DIVISION
Ng, 51, joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1994, and has held varied key appointments within the SAF and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
Between 2010 and 2012, Ng was seconded to the Ministry of Trade and Industry as director of the analysis and enterprise division, with a portfolio that covers nationwide R&D, in addition to small and medium-sized enterprise improvement.
Ng was appointed the deputy secretary for expertise at MINDEF in 2022, and the chief government of the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) in 2024.
He may also be concurrently appointed because the everlasting secretary for defence improvement in MINDEF from Sept 1. He is taking on from Melvyn Ong, who will continue his role as Permanent Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment.
New chief at Defence Science and Technology Agency
Succeeding Ng as the brand new chief of DSTA is Roy Chan Hsiung Wei, who has been the company’s deputy chief government for operations since Feb 15, 2021.
Roy Chan Hsiung Wei will succeed because the chief government of the Defence Science and Technology Agency from Sept 1.
PHOTO: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
In its assertion saying the adjustments, MINDEF stated that 52-year-old Chan has led the supply of complicated defence capabilities over time, since becoming a member of the defence expertise neighborhood in 1998.
Chan holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the Victoria University of Manchester and a Master of Science from Naval Postgraduate School. He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2022 and conferred the Knight of the National Order of Merit by the French authorities in 2025.
MINDEF expressed its deep appreciation to Ng for his distinguished service and invaluable contributions to MINDEF, SAF, DSTA and the defence expertise neighborhood.