TOP MILITARY AWARD FOR FORMER CHIEF OF NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE

The former Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), Air Marshal (Retired) Bruce Reid Ferguson, received Singapore's highest military award, the Distinguished Service Order (Military), from President S R Nathan at the Istana on 23 May.

In a military career that spanned 35 years, Air Marshal (Ret) Ferguson contributed significantly to forging strong defence ties between the NZDF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Under his leadership, the NZDF provided valuable assistance to the SAF during its mission in the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor.

Currently, the armed forces of the two countries also collaborate in many bilateral and multilateral activities, including military exercises under the Five Power Defence Arrangements, and professional exchange programmes.

Air Marshal (Ret) Ferguson is the first New Zealand Chief of Defence Force to be conferred this medal.

He said: "At a professional level, it signifies the very strong relationship we have with Singapore. On a personal level, this is a great and deep honour, a very great privilege for me to receive this."

Air Marshal (Ret) Ferguson first arrived in Singapore in 1971 as a junior helicopter pilot.

He let on that since then, he has been almost continuously associated with Singapore: "I spent a total of four years here, in 1971 and 1972 and again in 1980 and 1981, living at Tengah and Sembawang Air Bases. My eldest daughter, who is now 24, was even born here, so I have a Singaporean in the family!"

Air Marshal (Ret) Ferguson stepped down as the Chief of NZDF in April this year. While he has no definite retirement plans, he is very certain that the defence relationship between the NZDF and the SAF will continue to grow.

"The relationship between the two armed forces is already very strong and will continue to develop and get even stronger," he said. "It is a very, very strong relationship, and one that New Zealand treasures very dearly."

Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean; Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Ng Yat Chung, and senior officials from both countries attended the investiture.