Gan Siow Huang


Gan Siow Huang is a Singaporean politician, former and first female general and former highest female officer. She has served as the Member of Parliament for Marymount SMC since July 2020 after the 2020 Singaporean general election. She also served in the Singapore Armed Forces with rank of Brigadier-General. Her highest position was Chief of Staff – Air Staff of the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

Education

After her pre-university education in Victoria Junior College, Gan received a Singapore Armed Forces Merit Scholarship 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. In 2010, she graduated with a Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan Fellows Program.

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. 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. In a speech at a Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women forum held on 3 October 2016, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Education Low Yen Ling cited Gan as "one notable example who smashed the 'brass ceiling' to become the first female general in the SAF".
Gan succeeded Brigadier-General Neo Hong Keat as Commander of the Air Power Generation Command on 5 October 2016. Gan was also an executive committee member of the Girl Guides Singapore in 2016 and 2017.
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 of the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

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.
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. She contested for Marymount SMC against Dr Ang Yong Guan of the Progress Singapore Party in the 2020 Singaporean general election. On 11 July 2020, Gan was declared to be elected to represent Marymount SMC in the 14th Parliament of Singapore.
On 25 July 2020, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officially announced Gan as the Minister of State for Education and Manpower.

Personal life

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

Recognition

Gan received the Public Administration Medal in 2013.