Quick Facts
Biography
Lai Chung Han is a Singaporean civil servant and former Chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy. He was the rank of Rear-Admiral (two stars) when he retired.
Education
Lai was awarded the President's Scholarship and Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship in 1992. He graduated from Christ's College, Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in economics. He received the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship (General Development) in 2006 and obtained a Master of Public Administration at Harvard University. He also attended the Naval War College in the United States.
Military career
Lai enlisted in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in January 1992 and served in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s missile corvettes. He served on board the RSS Valour as a junior officer and later as the Executive Officer before assuming command of the RSS Valiant from 2002–2004. He was appointed as the Commander of the Missile Corvette Squadron in July 2007 and later as the Fleet Commander in April 2011.
Lai also concurrently held a number of staff appointments in the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), including: Head of Long Term Planning Secretariat, Office of the Chief of Defence Force; Office Director, Future Systems Directorate; Director (Policy), Ministry of Defence (2007–2010); Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Defence (2012–2014).
Lai was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral (two stars) on 1 July 2014. He succeeded Ng Chee Peng as the Chief of Navy on 1 August 2014.
Lai step down as Chief of Navy with RADM Lew Chuen Hong (formerly Chief Of Staff-Naval Staff) take over the command on Change of Command Parade held at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base on 16 June 2017 morning.
Non-military career
Lai is also a member of the board of ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) and a member of the Board of Governors of Temasek Polytechnic.
Lai was appointed as Ministry of Education's Second Permanent Secretary since June 19, 2017.
Personal life
Lai is married to Ng Chiew Yen. They have two children.
Awards
- Public Administration Medal (Silver) (Military), in 2010.