A Breif Biography of Mr Teo Cheen
Hean
Teo Chee Hean was born on 27 December 1954. He was educated at St
Michael's School and St Joseph's Institution. He enlisted in the
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1972 and received his commission at
the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute in 1973.
He was awarded the President's Scholarship and the SAF Scholarship
in 1973 to study Electrical Engineering and Management Science at
the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours)
degree in 1976. He continued with his studies at the Imperial
College in London, obtaining a Masters of Science degree (with
distinction) in Computing Science in 1977.
Teo Chee Hean then held various command and staff appointments in
the Republic of Singapore Navy and the Joint Staff.
He pursued his postgraduate studies at the Kennedy School of
Government in Harvard University in 1986, where he graduated with a
Masters in Public Administration and was named a Littauer
Fellow.
He assumed command of the Republic of Singapore Navy as Chief of
Navy in 1991, and was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in July
1991. On 7 December 1992, he left the SAF to seek elected public
office.
In a by-election in December 1992, he was elected as a Member of
Parliament for the Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency.
Thereafter, he served as Minister of State in the Ministries of
Finance, Communications and Defence.
In April 1995, Teo Chee Hean was appointed Acting Minister for the
Environment and Senior Minister of State for Defence. In January
1996, he was appointed Minister for the Environment and Second
Minister for Defence. In the January 1997 General Election, he was
elected as a Member of Parliament for the Pasir Ris Group
Representation Constituency and thereafter was appointed Minister
for Education while continuing as Second Minister for
Defence.
In the November 2001 General Election, he was elected as Member of
Parliament for the Pasir-Ris Punggol Group Representation
Constituency and re-appointed as Minister for Education and Second
Minister for Defence.
On 1 August 2003, he was appointed as Minister for Defence.
Teo Chee Hean is married to Chew Poh Yim. They have a son and a
daughter.
