At the cutting edge DSTA scholar Pang Chung Khiang is proud to be part of a team that safeguards Singapore’s defence and security By Ahmad Osman “MEANINGFUL” and “fulfilling” are two words Mr Pang Chung Khiang, director of air systems in the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA), uses to describe the role he plays in Singapore’s defence and security. There have been many exciting moments in the career of Mr Pang, who feels a great sense of achievement when the DSTA, working as a team, delivers a new operational capability for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). One of his most memorable moments was during a flight test course in the United States, when he had the opportunity to experience an aircraft in a spin. “That was definitely an exhilarating experience,” he says. “There are no boundaries for defence engineers to learn through experiences. Nothing can beat the first-hand experience and learning the crux of the problems in a personal way. There are no fixed templates or solutions in our line of work.” Mr Pang, 49, is a Colombo Plan scholar with a first-class honours degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Adelaide in Australia. He has a master’s in aeronautical engineering and an aeronautical engineer degree awarded by the Naval Post-graduate School in the US. Mr Pang, who also completed a programme for management development (PMD) in Harvard Business School, began his career in 1983 as an aerodynamics and structural engineer in the air logistics department of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). He was in the pioneering team which built up the flight testing capability here to ensure that a modified aircraft could perform its mission safely and effectively before it was released to the operational squadron. He managed the acquisition of guided systems, including guided weapons and unmanned air vehicles, while he was working in the Defence Materiel Organisation. Mr Pang currently oversees the management of acquisition programmes for air platforms including the F-15SG, Seahawk S70B, Gulfstream G-550, Hermes 450, Apache and Chinook helicopters. There is a culture of teamwork, open communication, knowledge sharing, and nurturing of young talent in the DSTA. The staff must keep up with the latest technologies to provide innovative solutions and give the SAF the technological edge. They discuss ideas with local and overseas professionals and there is practically no boundary in the quest for innovation and enhancement. The systems and military platforms Mr Pang and his team work on and the challenges they face are not what most people deal with every day. He says: “From fighter jets to helicopters, from the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft to unmanned aerial vehicles, the work is not only absorbing, but also thought-provoking and interesting. “All these continually drive my passion and interest in defence technology.” Mr Pang works with professionals in the Air System Programme Centre who help him to manage the acquisition and upgrading of air platforms. He and his team-mates and their pool of program managers and engineers support the RSAF’s transformation into a third generation fighting force. They also tap the expertise of leading aircraft manufacturers to provide technological options for the RSAF. “Over the years, our team has become quite adept at handling all types of challenges,” he says, adding that synergy among team-mates is essential. “I believe creative solutions are generated when we work as one team to tackle the problems. ”DSTA provides a conducive environment that encourages employees to learn and grow in their jobs. “We invest in our engineers to upgrade their skills and develop their technical competencies. Learning is a continual process,” Mr Pang says. “There are also overseas opportunities to increase your exposure and learn from our foreign technology counterparts. “We recognise that human capital is our primary asset and we invest in career and leadership development. “At DSTA, young engineers will get to work on high-tech systems, manage complex programmes and the opportunity to work with world-wide industry leaders. “But most importantly, you know you will be con-tributing and making a difference to the defence and security of our nation.”Mr Pang finds his work absorbing and thought-provoking.