Prominent scientist Tan Chorh Chuan to retire from permanent secretary roles on Sept 1
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Renowned scientist Tan Chorh Chuan will relinquish his roles as permanent secretary of National Research and Development, and of Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office in the Prime Minister’s Office on Sept 1.
PHOTO: PUBLIC SERVICE DIVISION
- Renowned scientist Tan Chorh Chuan will retire as Permanent Secretary of National Research and Development and Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office on Sept 1.
- Ng Chad-Son will replace as the new Permanent Secretary in PMO, and concurrently assume the role of Permanent Secretary for defence development in MINDEF.
- Roy Chan Hsiung Wei succeeds Ng as chief of DSTA.
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SINGAPORE – Tan Chorh Chuan, a prominent leader in biomedical science, public health and research policy, will retire from the Administrative Service on Sept 1.
He will relinquish his roles as permanent secretary for National Research and Development, and permanent secretary of the Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office, both of which come under the Prime Minister’s Office.
“I would like to thank Chorh Chuan for his outstanding and impactful contributions to the public service,” said Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing in a July 30 statement from 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 physician by training, was appointed to his current roles in 2023, and provided strategic leadership in uplifting the public service’s science, technology and innovation capabilities, having shaped and steered the nation’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 planning, according to the PSD.
He has also contributed to efforts to align national research and innovation investments with long-term strategic priorities, while fostering closer collaboration across the Government, academia and industry to address complex policy and operational challenges, said the PSD.
Tan has held various key appointments in the medical and academic fields, as well as in the public sector.
As director of medical services at the Ministry of Health (MOH) from 2000 to 2004, he played an instrumental role in leading the public health response to the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic.
He served as the deputy chairman at A*STAR from 2004 to 2017, and president of the National University of Singapore from 2008 to 2017.
He was the executive director of the MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT) and, concurrently, MOH’s chief health scientist from 2018 to 2023.
He was appointed chairman of MOHT in 2023, and also served as chairman of the Heathier SG Implementation Office from 2022 to 2024.
He is also an accomplished amateur painter.
In recognition of his contributions to Singapore in healthcare, biomedical research, higher education 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.
He will remain as the non-executive chairman at A*STAR and as MOHT chairman.
Replacing Tan’s roles in the 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 of the Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office in 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 various key appointments in SAF and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
Between 2010 and 2012, Ng was seconded to the Ministry of Trade and Industry as director of the research and enterprise division, with a portfolio that covers national research and development, as well as small and medium-sized enterprise development.
Ng was appointed deputy secretary for technology at MINDEF in 2022 and chief executive of the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) in 2024.
He will also be concurrently appointed as the permanent secretary for defence development at MINDEF from Sept 1.
He is taking over from Melvyn Ong, who will continue as Permanent Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment.
New chief at Defence Science and Technology Agency
Succeeding Ng as the new chief of DSTA is Roy Chan Hsiung Wei, 52, who has been its deputy chief executive for operations since Feb 15, 2021.
Roy Chan Hsiung Wei will take over as the chief executive of the Defence Science and Technology Agency from Sept 1.
PHOTO: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
In its statement announcing the changes, MINDEF said Chan has led the delivery of complex defence capabilities over the years since joining the defence technology community in 1998.
Chan holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the Victoria University of Manchester and a Master of Science from the Naval Postgraduate School.
He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2022.
In 2025, he was also conferred the Knight of the National Order of Merit by the French government.
MINDEF expressed its deep appreciation to Ng for his distinguished service and invaluable contributions to the ministry, SAF, DSTA and the defence technology community.
