BG Kelvin Fan Appointed as New Chief of Air Force for RSAF

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will undergo a leadership change in March, welcoming Brigadier-General (BG) Kelvin Fan as the new Chief of Air Force. This transition, announced by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on Monday (Feb. 19), will see BG Fan, currently Mindef’s deputy secretary of policy, succeed Major-General (MG) Kelvin Khong on March 22.

Mindef noted that this change reflects ongoing leadership renewal within the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). BG Fan, 44, joined the SAF in 1998 and has a distinguished background as an air warfare officer. He has overseen various high-profile operations, innovations, and digitalisation efforts within the RSAF and has strengthened diplomatic relationships across defense sectors globally. This year, he has also led initiatives for Singapore’s Total Defence 40 campaign and the SG Ready Exercise.

MG Khong, 48, leaves an impressive legacy after serving as the RSAF Chief since March 2019. Under his command, the RSAF navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and led multiple humanitarian and disaster relief missions, including support efforts for Gaza and Afghanistan, as well as fire and flood relief in Australia. MG Khong’s leadership was pivotal in advancing the RSAF’s technological capabilities and preparing personnel for future demands.

In a recent statement, MG Khong emphasized RSAF’s focus on enhancing operational efficiency with new platforms and AI-driven tools. The RSAF has been testing drones for patrolling, intruder detection, and runway assessments and is exploring AI to optimize training using pilot data from simulators. These advancements align with RSAF’s future-forward vision under the incoming leadership.