Kelvin Khong Explained

Kelvin Khong
Honorific Suffix:PPA(E) PPA(P) PBS
Native Name:康文良
Native Name Lang:zh
Birth Date:1976 1, df=y
Birth Place:Singapore
Allegiance: Singapore
Serviceyears:1995–2024
Rank:Major-General
Commands:Chief of Air Force
Chief of Staff (Joint Staff)
Chief of Staff (Air Staff)
Commander, Air Combat Command
Head, Operational Development Group in Air Combat Command
Head, Air Operations
Head, Air Plans
Branch Head, Joint Operations Department
Commanding Officer, 149 Squadron
Awards:See awards and decorations
Alma Mater:Imperial College London (MEng)
Air Command and Staff College (MMOAS)
International Institute for Management Development (MBA)
Spouse:Ho Pei Chen
Children:3

Kelvin Khong Boon Leong (Chinese: |p=Kāng Wénliáng|s=康文良) is a Singaporean former major-general who served as Chief of Air Force from 2019 to 2024.[1] [2]

Education

Khong was educated at Hwa Chong Junior College and attended the flight training programme at Singapore Youth Flying Club, where he was the Best Trainee in Flying upon graduation in 1995.[3]

In 1999, after being awarded the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship, Khong graduated from Imperial College London with a Master of Engineering in aeronautical engineering.

Khong also attended the Air Command and Staff College and graduated with a Master of Military Operational Art and Science degree in 2008. He subsequently completed a Master of Business Administration at the International Institute for Management Development in 2012.[4]

Military career

Khong enlisted in the Singapore Armed Forces in 1995 and served as a pilot in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), operating the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and McDonnell Douglas F-15SG.

During his military career, Khong has held the appointments of Commanding Officer, 149 Squadron; Branch Head, Air Operations Department; Branch Head; Joint Operations Department; Head, Air Plans; Head, Air Operations; Head, Operational Development Group in Air Combat Command; Commander, Air Combat Command; Chief of Staff (Air Staff); and Chief of Staff (Joint Staff).

Khong was promoted from the rank of colonel to brigadier-general on 1 July 2015, and to the rank of major-general on 1 July 2019.[5] [6]

On 22 March 2019, Khong succeeded Mervyn Tan as Chief of Air Force. Under his leadership, the RSAF began the acquisition of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, achieved full operational capabilities for the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport and the Aster 30 Ground Based Air Defence system, and participated in several Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions, such as the bushfire and flood relief operations in Australia,[7] [8] the airlift operations of Afghan evacuees from Qatar to Germany,[9] [10] and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.[11] [12]

Khong stepped down on 22 March 2024, and was succeeded by Kelvin Fan.

Awards and decorations

Personal life

Khong is married to Ho Pei Chen, and has two sons and a daughter.

Notes and References

  1. News: Ng . Charmaine . 2019-03-22 . RSAF welcomes new chief, BG Kelvin Khong, with change of command parade . 2021-02-18 . The Straits Times.
  2. Web site: 2024-02-19 . Change in Chief of Air Force . 2024-09-16 . MINDEF . en.
  3. News: 1995-09-03 . Treat in the sky for pilots' families . 2023-03-24 . . 23.
  4. Web site: Chief of Air Force . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20231024005831/https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/20231024000000*/https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/leadership-biographies/biographies-detail/saf-leadership/chief-of-air-force . 2023-10-24 . 2021-11-28 . MINDEF . en.
  5. News: 2015-06-27 . Sense of purpose drives SAF's first woman General . 2024-09-16 . . 9.
  6. Web site: 2019-06-27 . Recognising Over 500 Personnel from MINDEF and SAF . 2024-09-16 . MINDEF.
  7. News: Yong . Clement . 2020-01-07 . 'That's exactly what neighbours are about': Australians welcome Singapore's help to fight bush fires . 2024-09-16 . The Straits Times.
  8. News: 2020-01-07 . RSAF Chinook helicopters deployed to help with firefighting, relief efforts for Australia's bushfire crisis . 2024-09-16 . Today.
  9. News: Mahmud . Aqil Haziq . 2021-08-23 . Singapore offers to help US evacuate refugees from Afghanistan using RSAF tanker-transport plane . 2024-09-16 . CNA.
  10. News: Lim . Min Zhang . 2021-09-10 . RSAF's MRTT tanker aircraft ends deployment to evacuate Afghanistan refugees . 2024-09-16 . The Straits Times.
  11. Web site: 2024-03-21 . Singapore completes first humanitarian aid airdrop into Gaza . 2024-09-15 . . en.
  12. News: Yeo . Mike . 2024-04-03 . SAF team returns to Singapore after completion of Gaza airdrop missions . 2024-09-16 . The Straits Times.
  13. Web site: 2021-11-22 . PMO Recipients . 2021-12-08 . Prime Minister's Office Singapore . en.
  14. Web site: 2021-11-22 . PMO Recipients . 2024-09-15 . Prime Minister's Office Singapore . en.
  15. Web site: Singapore Chief of Air Force Major-General Kelvin Khong awarded the title of "Officier de l'Ordre National du Mérite" . 2023-04-25 . La France à Singapour . en.
  16. Web site: Australian Gazette. 8 February 2023 .
  17. Web site: 2023-03-15 . KSAU Anugerahi Bintang Swa Bhuwana Paksa Utama untuk CAF RSAF . 2024-09-16 . indonesiadefence.com . id.
  18. Web site: CSAF Brown meets Singapore Maj. Gen. Khong. 28 April 2023. 21 September 2023. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. EN.
  19. Book: ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ให้แก่นายทหารต่างประเทศ ๑. พลโท เมลวิน ออง (Melvyn Ong) ๒. พลอากาศตรี เคลวิน คอง บุน เหลียง (Kelvin Khong Boon Leong). 23 September 2023. TH.
  20. Web site: 16 August 2023. Conferred the Royal Decoration of Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand. 21 September 2023. @TheRSAF on Twitter. EN.
  21. Web site: 19 October 2023. Agong kurnia 292 pingat kepada tentera, termasuk dua penerima negara asing. MyMetro. MS. 19 October 2023.