Gan Siow Huang

Gan Siow Huang is a Singaporean former air force general. On 1 July 2015, she was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, becoming the first female general and the highest ranking female officer in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).[1][2] In March 2020, she resigned as Chief of Staff – Air Staff of the Republic of Singapore Air Force.[3]

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Gan.
Gan Siow Huang
Gan at a change-of-command ceremony
Chief of Staff – Air Staff
In office
July 2019 – March 2020
Preceded byTommy Tan Ah Han
Personal details
BornSingapore
Spouse(s)Lee Jek Suen
Military service
Allegiance Singapore
Branch/serviceRepublic of Singapore Air Force
Years of service1993–2020
RankBrigadier-General
Commands
  • Commanding Officer, 203 Squadron
  • Commander, Air Surveillance and Control Group
  • Head, Joint Manpower Department
  • Commander, Air Power Generation Command (2016–2019)
  • Chief of Staff – Air Staff (2019–2020)
Gan Siow Huang
Simplified Chinese颜晓芳

In October 2016, Singaporean Member of Parliament Low Yen Ling announced in a speech to women rights organisations that Gan is "one notable example who smashed the 'brass ceiling' to become the first female general in the SAF".[4]

Education

After her pre-university education in Victoria Junior College, Gan received a Singapore Armed Forces Merit Scholarship (Women) in 1993 and subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science from the London School of Economics. She attended the New Zealand Defence College's command and staff course in 2003.[5] In 2010, she graduated with a Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan Fellows Program.[6]

Military career

Gan was a weapon systems officer by training. Throughout her military career, she has held command and staff appointments in the SAF, including Commanding Officer of the 203 Squadron, Commander of Air Surveillance and Control Group and was Head of the Joint Manpower Department in the Ministry of Defence.[7] Gan succeeded Brigadier-General Neo Hong Keat as Commander of the Air Power Generation Command on 5 October 2016. In July 2019, Gan was appointed Chief of Staff – Air Staff, succeeding Brigadier-General Tommy Tan Ah Han. In March 2020, she resigned as Chief of Staff – Air Staff.[3]

Gan was also an executive committee member of the Girl Guides Singapore in 2016 and 2017.[8]

Gan received the Public Administration Medal (Military) in 2013.[9]

Political career

On 22 March 2020, Gan was spotted with Defence Minister and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Ng Eng Hen at a walkabout in Bishan, fuelling speculation that she could be fielded as a People's Action Party candidate at the next general election.[3]

On 26 June 2020, Gan was officially introduced by PAP Vice-Chairman Masagos Zulkifli as a candidate contesting in the upcoming elections on 10 July 2020.[10]

Personal life

Gan is married to Lee Jek Suen, a former Navy officer. They have three children.[11]

References
  1. "Jeremyn Chow, SAF gets its first female general, The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 Oct 2016".
  2. "Chan Luo Er, SAF promotes first female to Brigadier-General rank, (26 Jun 2015), Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 8 Oct 2016".
  3. Lim, Min Zhang (22 March 2020). "Singapore GE: Potential PAP candidate Gan Siow Huang, an ex-RSAF general, spotted at Bishan North walkabout". The Straits Times.
  4. "Speech by Ms Low Yen Ling, Parliamentary Secretary for Trade & Industry and Education at the CEDAW Forum 2015 "See Doors Open: Celebrating 20 Years of CEDAW". Ministry of Social and Family Development. Retrieved 30 Oct 2016". Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  5. "Chin, Gan and Ng, Making a Difference: RSAF's Role in Peacetime Operations, Journal of the Singapore Armed Forces (2006, Vol 32, No.1). Retrieved 8 Oct 2016".
  6. "Profile of Siow Huang Gan (Class of 2010), MIT Sloan Fellows Program, retrieved 8 Oct 2016". Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  7. "Lynnette Tan, Sense of purpose drives SAF's first woman General, TODAY. Retrieved 8 Oct 2016". Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  8. "Singapore Girl Guides Executive Committee. Retrieved 24 Oct 2016". Archived from the original on 2016-11-24.
  9. "Gan Siow Huang National Day Award (2013). Prime Minister's Office of Singapore. Retrieved 8 Oct 2016". Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  10. https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/singapore-ge2020-pap-unveils-next-slate-of-candidates-including-singapores-first-woman
  11. "High-flier: Pioneer scholarship holder also proud mum, AsiaOne (23 Jul 2013). Retrieved 8 Oct 2016". Archived from the original on 2016-11-24.
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