December 27, 2018, 04:11 PM 
Chief of Army Brigadier-General (BG) Goh Si Hou will be promoted to Major-General come Jan. 1, 2019.
According the Ministry of Defence, Goh, 40, has been due for promotion.
He had "received his promotion certificate from Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen in a simple ceremony at the Ministry of Defence", the statement said.
An artillery officer by vocation, Goh enlisted into the Singapore Army in January 1997 and is a recipient of the President's Scholarship and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Overseas Scholarship.
First time promotion held in January
The Mindef statement noted that the SAF Service Chiefs, Chief of Army, Chief of Navy, and Chief of Air Force, have received Major-General ranks soon after their appointments, in recognition of the responsibilities of the office.
It noted that "Goh was appointed nine months ago as Chief of Army and is due for promotion".
However, this promotion is unprecedented in a way.
Goh will be the first Chief of Army to be promoted in January, as it usually takes place in July.
| Name | Rank | Years in 0ffice | Post-Chief of Army career |
| Goh Si Hou | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in Jan. 2019 | 2018 - | |
| Melvyn Ong | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in July 2016 | 2015 - 2018 | Chief of Defence Force |
| Perry Lim | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in July 2014 | 2014 - 2015 | Chief of Defence Force |
| Ravinder Singh | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in July 2011 | 2011 - 2014 | Deputy President, ST Electronics, Corporate & Market Development; President, Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd; ST Electronics President |
| Chan Chun Sing | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in July 2010 | 2010 - 2011 | Minister, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports; NTUC Secretary-General; Minister, Trade and Industry |
| Neo Kian Hong | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in July 2007 | 2007 - 2010 | Chief of Defence Force; Permanent Secretary, Education Development, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development); SMRT CEO |
| Desmond Kuek | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in July 2003 | 2003 - 2007 | Chief of Defence Force; Permanent Secretary, Environment and Water Resources; SMRT CEO; Founder of Genium & Co |
| Ng Yat Chung | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in July 1999 | 2000 - 2003 | Chief of Defence Force; Neptune Orient Lines CEO; Singapore Press Holdings CEO |
| Lim Chuan Poh | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in July 1999 | 1998 - 2000 | Chief of Defence Force Chairman of A*STAR (April 2007-), Adjunct Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (2013-) and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education (2003-2007) |
| Han Eng Juan | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in July 1996 | 1995 - 1998 | Chief Executive, Land Transport Authority CEO |
| Lim Neo Chian | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in July 1994 | 1992 - 1995 | CEO Jurong Town Corporation, AVA Board Chairman |
| Ng Jui Ping | From Brigadier-General to Major-General in July 1991 | 1990-1992 | Chief of Defence Force, Deputy Chairman of Central Provident Fund Board; Chairman of Chartered Industries of Singapore and Swiss Asia Banking School (Singapore) Foundation (2007-to date); and Vice-President of Football Association of Singapore (2007-to date) |
| Boey Tak Hap | Remained as Brigadier-General | 1987 - 1990 | Singapore Power CEO, SMRT CEO, Deputy Chief Executive PUB |
Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong, and Chief of Navy, Rear-Admiral Lew Chuen Hong, were promoted on July 1 last year.
Chief of Air Force, Major-General Mervyn Tan, was promoted on July 1, 2016 .
Military appointments include implementation of new SAF career schemes and supporting National Service
Goh is an artillery officer by vocation and was the Commanding Officer, 20th Battalion Singapore Artillery, and also Commander 3rd Division Artillery.
As Commander 6th Singapore Division, he oversaw the Combined Arms Training Centre (CATC), which is the Army’s centre of excellence for Brigade training.
Goh served as the Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Plans), where he was responsible for the long-term plans, capability development and resource management for the Army.
As Deputy Director (Personnel Policy), he was responsible for HR policies and the implementation of new career schemes in the SAF. He also headed a project office supporting the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS).
Other appointments
Goh, married with two young children, is also a newly appointed board member of Housing Development Board (HDB).
Additional research by Matthias Ang and Andrew Wong
Top photo from Mindef
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