773:
901:
818:
807:
762:
678:
781:
960:
1250:
987:
875:
731:
1220:
1258:
1100:
845:
1160:
1138:
1228:
1014:
918:
710:
1108:
1168:
1130:
947:
832:
700:
1001:
862:
607:
619:
794:
749:
888:
974:
656:
689:
721:
630:
645:
667:
931:
369:. He was recalled to the SAF in 1966 and served as the first commanding officer of the 1st Signal Battalion from 1967 to 1968. From 1968 to 1969, Choo attended the Long Telecommunications Course at the School of Signals in the United Kingdom, before returning to Singapore to serve as the
1040:
1190:
1078:
1048:
1198:
1070:
713:
703:
1470:
1440:
411:(MINDEF), where he was appointed Head of Training and Head of Organisation and Plans in 1973. In 1974, he succeeded Kirpa Ram Vij as Director, General Staff. Choo was promoted to the rank of
460:
He had also served as
Singapore's Non-Resident High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea between 2000 and 2006 and Singapore's High Commissioner to South Africa between 2001 and 2005.
1430:
618:
385:
709:
1465:
1295:
341:, Malaysia. He served as a platoon commander in the 1st Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR) and was involved in two major operations where he was deployed to
1435:
1415:
699:
1405:
1425:
905:
475:
Apart from his military and diplomatic careers, Choo took on non-executive roles in various governmental and non-governmental organisations, including:
900:
772:
765:
724:
317:
between 1953 and 1957. As a high school student, he captained the football team, played hockey, and won the Queen's Badge for his activities in the
637:
532:
454:
377:
564:"A Special Relationship that Continues to Grow" in Beating the Odds Together: 50 Years of Singapore-Israel Ties. Ed. Mattia Tomba. Singapore:
457:(MFA) and served as Singapore's High Commissioner to Australia and Singapore's High Commissioner to Fiji concurrently between 1994 and 1997.
573:
362:
After
Singapore's independence from Malaysia on 9 August 1965, Choo, then the battalion signals officer, was appointed as a military aide to
138:
1445:
54:
817:
1420:
1376:
1349:
806:
552:
438:
287:
283:
279:
112:
108:
376:
In 1971, Choo briefly served as the commanding officer of the 4th
Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment (4 SIR) before attending the
681:
1017:
423:
1450:
408:
395:
Upon his return to
Singapore in September 1972, Choo assumed the command of 1 SIR. In the same year, he was named an honorary
1410:
822:
670:
655:
441:
in May 1990 after "Chief of the
General Staff" was renamed. He retired from the SAF on 30 June 1992, after which he went to
373:
of the 1st Signal
Battalion. In 1970, he was appointed Chief of Communications and Electronics (now Chief Signals Officer).
1280:
935:
720:
520:
318:
200:
1320:
780:
761:
622:
356:
142:
811:
688:
547:
Choo married to
Katherine Seow on 3 December 1966 and had two children together, Warren Choo and Karina Choo. Choo is
503:
959:
964:
629:
776:
Darjah
Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera (Honorary Malaysian Armed Forces Order for Valour (First Degree)), in 1987.
644:
651:(Public Service Medal), in 2005, for his work with the Singapore Red Cross Society in tsunami relief operations.
1355:
677:
633:
510:
986:
422:
From 1978 to 1981, Choo attended a preparatory course in military history at the
Department of History of the
403:, and took up the command of the 2nd Singapore Infantry Brigade (2 SIB). He was also promoted to the rank of
874:
659:
648:
442:
730:
666:
1460:
1296:""Then and now, God's always been here for me": Singapore's first top military chief General Winston Choo"
592:
480:
463:
Choo was appointed
Singapore's Non-Resident Ambassador to Israel in 2005, and has since been succeeded by
363:
330:
291:
844:
930:
1455:
487:
314:
392:
in Kansas, United States, that following year, and graduated with distinctions in all his subjects.
58:
692:
434:
275:
98:
1013:
576:
569:
426:. In 1981, he went to the United States to study for a master's degree in military history at
370:
334:
307:
303:
535:(MFA). He also supported the Dads for Life movement in Singapore by contributing to the book
991:
565:
400:
389:
257:
223:
849:
427:
176:
591:
Throughout his career, Choo won many accolades, some of the medals were displayed at a
342:
80:
784:
Pingat Perkhidmatan Anggota Beruniform Malaysia (The Uniformed Service Malaysia Medal)
1399:
837:
528:
464:
416:
181:
430:
and returned to Singapore in 1982 to resume his post as the Chief of General Staff.
673:, in 1990, for exceptional distinguished service in military command or staff work.
548:
396:
381:
230:
172:
527:
Choo has also contributed to several publications, including his recollections of
1387:
1006:
952:
366:
351:
338:
306:
area. He was given the name "Winston" by his grandfather, who named him after
867:
612:
412:
68:
580:
799:
754:
404:
1356:
MINDEF Singapore : The SAF's Pioneer Infantry Battalion Turns 50
979:
923:
893:
714:
Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (10 Years) Medal
704:
Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (20 Years) Medal
346:
265:
595:
exhibition in 2006. The following is a partial list of his medals:
355:, and where he led his men in patrolling the streets during the
337:
in December 1961 after completing his officer cadet training in
313:
Choo attended Monk's Hill School between 1947 and 1952, and the
290:
between 1990 and 1992. He was the longest-serving head of the
126:
Commanding Officer, 4th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment
124:
Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment
768:(Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia)
1471:
Recipients of the Long Service Medal (Military) (Singapore)
329:
Choo enlisted into the Singapore Military Forces (now the
274:; born 18 July 1941) is a former Singaporean diplomat and
302:
Born in Singapore, Choo grew up in Makepeace Road in the
445:
and attended the six-week Advanced Management Program.
1251:"Winston Choo is Singapore's first three-star general"
636:(Public Service Star), in 2009, for his work with the
453:
After retiring from military service, Choo joined the
16:
Singaporean former diplomat, civil servant and general
235:
1441:
High commissioners of Singapore to Papua New Guinea
229:
222:
217:
199:
190:
161:
148:
134:
118:
Head of Organisation and Plans, Ministry of Defence
104:
94:
86:
74:
64:
38:
30:
23:
878:Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama (1st Class), in 1986.
516:Member, National Youth Achievement Award Council
493:Board Member, Singapore Technologies (1984–1992)
1352:on Infopedia, National Library Board Singapore
1227:. 17 September 1982. p. 1. Archived from
682:Public Administration Medal (Gold) (Military)
662:(Public Administration Medal, Gold), in 1978.
496:Board Member, Keppel-Tat Lee Bank (1992–2001)
333:) in December 1959 and was commissioned as a
205:
8:
1431:High commissioners of Singapore to Australia
1281:"Following in granddad and dad's footsteps"
1197:. 27 August 1981. p. 1. Archived from
1360:
906:Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang
214:
20:
1466:Recipients of the Pingat Pentadbiran Awam
1131:"Colonel Winston Choo promoted brigadier"
1107:. 31 May 1974. p. 10. Archived from
1047:. 6 April 1971. p. 8. Archived from
725:Singapore Armed Forces Good Service Medal
122:Commander, 2nd Singapore Infantry Brigade
1257:. 1 July 1988. p. 1. Archived from
1167:. 6 July 1978. p. 1. Archived from
766:Darjah Yang Mulia Setia Mahkota Malaysia
386:US Army Command and General Staff course
130:Commanding Officer, 1st Signal Battalion
1436:High commissioners of Singapore to Fiji
1032:
625:(Distinguished Service Order), in 2015.
499:Chairman, Metro Holdings (2007–present)
187:
1416:Singaporean people of Hokkien descent
1141:from the original on 19 December 2013
1081:from the original on 19 December 2013
734:Pingat Pertahanan (The Defence Medal)
120:Head of Training, Ministry of Defence
7:
671:Meritorious Service Medal (Military)
1406:Chiefs of Defence Force (Singapore)
1426:Ambassadors of Singapore to Israel
553:Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church
14:
1161:"Winston Choo made major-general"
433:Choo was promoted to the rank of
349:between 1963 and 1964 during the
286:between 1976 and 1990, and later
1018:Order of National Security Merit
1012:
999:
985:
972:
958:
945:
929:
916:
899:
886:
873:
860:
843:
830:
816:
805:
792:
779:
771:
760:
747:
729:
719:
708:
698:
687:
676:
665:
654:
643:
628:
617:
605:
537:Letters from Grandpa and Grandma
424:National University of Singapore
282:between 1974 and 1976, and then
139:Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
1041:"25 ADCs for President Sheares"
1071:"Choo is now youngest colonel"
823:Order of the Crown of Thailand
551:and attended Sunday school at
270:
236:
206:
1:
1221:"Top officers given exposure"
1077:. 3 October 1972. p. 8.
936:Order of the Cloud and Banner
660:Pingat Pentadbiran Awam, Emas
437:in 1988 and became the first
407:. He was later posted to the
1137:. 1 August 1976. p. 5.
623:Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang
357:1964 race riots in Singapore
143:1964 race riots in Singapore
1446:Anglo-Chinese School alumni
1327:. 5 October 1978. p. 7
1294:Gemma Koh (6 August 2021).
1191:"SAF top brass study in US"
812:Order of the White Elephant
638:Ministry of Foreign Affairs
533:Ministry of Foreign Affairs
504:Singapore Red Cross Society
467:who was appointed in 2021.
455:Ministry of Foreign Affairs
154:
1487:
821:Knight Grand Cross of the
810:Knight Grand Cross of the
284:Chief of the General Staff
170:
113:Chief of the General Staff
1421:Singaporean Presbyterians
1383:
1373:
1368:
1363:
378:Command and Staff College
261:
247:
213:
195:
1101:"Col. Choo gets top job"
634:Bintang Bakti Masyarakat
511:Singapore Sports Council
298:Early life and education
165:Katherine Seow (m. 1966)
963:Grand Commander of the
649:Pingat Bakti Masyarakat
443:Harvard Business School
280:Director, General Staff
201:Simplified Chinese
116:Director, General Staff
1451:Duke University alumni
1377:Chief of Defence Force
1321:"Choo at the Pentagon"
593:National Library Board
481:Central Provident Fund
439:Chief of Defence Force
331:Singapore Armed Forces
292:Singapore Armed Forces
288:Chief of Defence Force
254:Winston Choo Wee Leong
191:Winston Choo Wee Leong
109:Chief of Defence Force
34:Winston Choo Wee Leong
1411:Singaporean diplomats
566:World Scientific Book
87:Years of service
1350:Winston Choo article
1261:on 27 September 2013
934:Grand Cordon of the
695:(Long Service Medal)
531:and his time in the
519:Honorary President,
488:Chartered Industries
315:Anglo-Chinese School
1231:on 19 December 2013
1201:on 19 December 2013
1171:on 19 December 2013
1111:on 19 December 2013
1051:on 19 December 2013
990:Grand Cross of the
539:published in 2008.
409:Ministry of Defence
59:Straits Settlements
716:with 15 year clasp
693:Pingat Bakti Setia
435:Lieutenant-General
384:. He attended the
276:lieutenant-general
99:Lieutenant-General
1394:
1393:
1384:Succeeded by
1364:Military offices
1325:The Straits Times
1255:The Straits Times
1225:The Straits Times
1195:The Straits Times
1165:The Straits Times
1135:The Straits Times
1105:The Straits Times
1075:The Straits Times
1045:The Straits Times
904:The Most Exalted
848:Commander of the
574:978-981-121-468-4
479:Deputy Chairman,
449:Diplomatic career
419:two years later.
371:second-in-command
335:second lieutenant
308:Winston Churchill
251:
250:
243:
242:
224:Standard Mandarin
169:
168:
1478:
1361:
1337:
1336:
1334:
1332:
1317:
1311:
1310:
1308:
1306:
1300:Salt & Light
1291:
1285:
1284:
1277:
1271:
1270:
1268:
1266:
1247:
1241:
1240:
1238:
1236:
1217:
1211:
1210:
1208:
1206:
1187:
1181:
1180:
1178:
1176:
1157:
1151:
1150:
1148:
1146:
1127:
1121:
1120:
1118:
1116:
1097:
1091:
1090:
1088:
1086:
1067:
1061:
1060:
1058:
1056:
1037:
1016:
1005:
1003:
1002:
992:Legion of Honour
989:
978:
976:
975:
962:
951:
949:
948:
933:
922:
920:
919:
903:
892:
890:
889:
877:
866:
864:
863:
847:
836:
834:
833:
820:
809:
798:
796:
795:
783:
775:
764:
753:
751:
750:
733:
723:
712:
702:
691:
680:
669:
658:
647:
632:
621:
611:
609:
608:
599:National honours
401:Benjamin Sheares
390:Fort Leavenworth
272:
263:
239:
238:
215:
209:
208:
188:
128:Chief of Signals
76:
52:
48:
46:
21:
1486:
1485:
1481:
1480:
1479:
1477:
1476:
1475:
1396:
1395:
1390:
1380:
1346:
1341:
1340:
1330:
1328:
1319:
1318:
1314:
1304:
1302:
1293:
1292:
1288:
1279:
1278:
1274:
1264:
1262:
1249:
1248:
1244:
1234:
1232:
1219:
1218:
1214:
1204:
1202:
1189:
1188:
1184:
1174:
1172:
1159:
1158:
1154:
1144:
1142:
1129:
1128:
1124:
1114:
1112:
1099:
1098:
1094:
1084:
1082:
1069:
1068:
1064:
1054:
1052:
1039:
1038:
1034:
1029:
1000:
998:
973:
971:
965:Legion of Honor
946:
944:
917:
915:
887:
885:
861:
859:
850:Legion Of Merit
831:
829:
793:
791:
748:
746:
743:
741:Foreign honours
606:
604:
601:
589:
561:
545:
473:
451:
428:Duke University
415:in 1976 and to
327:
325:Military career
300:
186:
141:
129:
127:
125:
123:
121:
119:
117:
115:
111:
53:
50:
44:
42:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1484:
1482:
1474:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1398:
1397:
1392:
1391:
1386:Major-General
1385:
1382:
1372:
1366:
1365:
1359:
1358:
1353:
1345:
1344:External links
1342:
1339:
1338:
1312:
1286:
1272:
1242:
1212:
1182:
1152:
1122:
1092:
1062:
1031:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1024:
1023:
1022:
1021:
1020:, Tongil Medal
996:
995:
994:
969:
968:
967:
941:
940:
939:
938:
912:
911:
910:
909:
882:
881:
880:
879:
856:
855:
854:
853:
827:
826:
825:
814:
788:
787:
786:
785:
777:
769:
742:
739:
738:
737:
736:
735:
727:
717:
706:
696:
685:
674:
663:
652:
641:
626:
600:
597:
588:
585:
584:
583:
560:
557:
555:in his youth.
544:
541:
525:
524:
523:(2011–present)
517:
514:
507:
500:
497:
494:
491:
484:
472:
469:
450:
447:
343:Sebatik Island
326:
323:
299:
296:
278:who served as
249:
248:
245:
244:
241:
240:
233:
227:
226:
220:
219:
218:Transcriptions
211:
210:
203:
197:
196:
193:
192:
167:
166:
163:
159:
158:
150:
146:
145:
136:
132:
131:
106:
102:
101:
96:
92:
91:
88:
84:
83:
81:Singapore Army
78:
72:
71:
66:
62:
61:
40:
36:
35:
32:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1483:
1472:
1469:
1467:
1464:
1462:
1461:Living people
1459:
1457:
1454:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1407:
1404:
1403:
1401:
1389:
1379:
1378:
1371:
1367:
1362:
1357:
1354:
1351:
1348:
1347:
1343:
1326:
1322:
1316:
1313:
1301:
1297:
1290:
1287:
1282:
1276:
1273:
1260:
1256:
1252:
1246:
1243:
1230:
1226:
1222:
1216:
1213:
1200:
1196:
1192:
1186:
1183:
1170:
1166:
1162:
1156:
1153:
1140:
1136:
1132:
1126:
1123:
1110:
1106:
1102:
1096:
1093:
1080:
1076:
1072:
1066:
1063:
1050:
1046:
1042:
1036:
1033:
1026:
1019:
1015:
1011:
1010:
1008:
997:
993:
988:
984:
983:
981:
970:
966:
961:
957:
956:
954:
943:
942:
937:
932:
928:
927:
925:
914:
913:
907:
902:
898:
897:
895:
884:
883:
876:
872:
871:
869:
858:
857:
851:
846:
842:
841:
839:
838:United States
828:
824:
819:
815:
813:
808:
804:
803:
801:
790:
789:
782:
778:
774:
770:
767:
763:
759:
758:
756:
745:
744:
740:
732:
728:
726:
722:
718:
715:
711:
707:
705:
701:
697:
694:
690:
686:
683:
679:
675:
672:
668:
664:
661:
657:
653:
650:
646:
642:
639:
635:
631:
627:
624:
620:
616:
615:
614:
603:
602:
598:
596:
594:
586:
582:
578:
575:
571:
567:
563:
562:
558:
556:
554:
550:
543:Personal life
542:
540:
538:
534:
530:
529:Goh Keng Swee
522:
521:Boys' Brigade
518:
515:
512:
508:
505:
501:
498:
495:
492:
489:
485:
482:
478:
477:
476:
470:
468:
466:
465:Lim Chuan Poh
461:
458:
456:
448:
446:
444:
440:
436:
431:
429:
425:
420:
418:
417:Major-General
414:
410:
406:
402:
399:to President
398:
393:
391:
387:
383:
379:
374:
372:
368:
365:
360:
358:
354:
353:
348:
344:
340:
336:
332:
324:
322:
320:
319:Boys' Brigade
316:
311:
309:
305:
297:
295:
293:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
267:
259:
255:
246:
234:
232:
228:
225:
221:
216:
212:
204:
202:
198:
194:
189:
184:
183:
178:
174:
164:
160:
157:
156:
151:
147:
144:
140:
137:
133:
114:
110:
107:
103:
100:
97:
93:
89:
85:
82:
79:
73:
70:
67:
63:
60:
56:
51:(age 83)
41:
37:
33:
29:
22:
19:
1374:
1369:
1329:. Retrieved
1324:
1315:
1303:. Retrieved
1299:
1289:
1275:
1263:. Retrieved
1259:the original
1254:
1245:
1233:. Retrieved
1229:the original
1224:
1215:
1203:. Retrieved
1199:the original
1194:
1185:
1173:. Retrieved
1169:the original
1164:
1155:
1143:. Retrieved
1134:
1125:
1113:. Retrieved
1109:the original
1104:
1095:
1083:. Retrieved
1074:
1065:
1053:. Retrieved
1049:the original
1044:
1035:
590:
549:Presbyterian
546:
536:
526:
513:(late 1970s)
474:
462:
459:
452:
432:
421:
397:aide-de-camp
394:
382:Fort Canning
375:
361:
350:
328:
312:
301:
271:Zhū Wéiliáng
269:
253:
252:
237:Zhū Wéiliáng
231:Hanyu Pinyin
180:
173:Chinese name
152:
135:Battles/wars
49:18 July 1941
25:Winston Choo
18:
1456:1941 births
1388:Ng Jui Ping
1007:South Korea
908:(1st Class)
506:(1996–2008)
490:(1992–1994)
483:(1992–1994)
471:Other posts
367:Yusof Ishak
352:Konfrontasi
339:Sungai Besi
177:family name
1400:Categories
1381:1974–1992
1027:References
953:Philippine
852:, in 1978.
684:, in 1981.
581:1122747159
502:Chairman,
486:Chairman,
65:Allegiance
45:1941-07-18
31:Birth name
1370:New title
1331:28 August
1265:28 August
1235:28 August
1205:28 August
1175:28 August
1145:28 August
1115:28 August
1085:28 August
1055:28 August
868:Indonesia
613:Singapore
568:, 2019 .
413:Brigadier
364:President
162:Spouse(s)
90:1959–1992
69:Singapore
55:Singapore
1139:Archived
1079:Archived
1009: :
982: :
955: :
926: :
896: :
870: :
840: :
802: :
800:Thailand
757: :
755:Malaysia
509:Member,
171:In this
105:Commands
75:Service/
405:Colonel
294:(SAF).
258:Chinese
1305:21 May
1004:
980:France
977:
950:
924:Taiwan
921:
894:Brunei
891:
865:
835:
797:
752:
610:
587:Awards
579:
572:
347:Borneo
304:Newton
268::
266:pinyin
260::
175:, the
155:awards
149:Awards
77:branch
559:Works
1375:1st
1333:2013
1307:2024
1267:2013
1237:2013
1207:2013
1177:2013
1147:2013
1117:2013
1087:2013
1057:2013
577:OCLC
570:ISBN
182:Choo
153:See
95:Rank
39:Born
388:at
380:at
310:.
262:朱维良
207:朱维良
179:is
1402::
1323:.
1298:.
1253:.
1223:.
1193:.
1163:.
1133:.
1103:.
1073:.
1043:.
359:.
345:,
321:.
264:;
57:,
47:)
1335:.
1309:.
1283:.
1269:.
1239:.
1209:.
1179:.
1149:.
1119:.
1089:.
1059:.
640:.
256:(
185:.
43:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.