Cai Dexian | |
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蔡德贤 | |
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Chief of Army | |
Assumed office 21 March 2025 | |
Preceded by | David Neo |
Personal details | |
Born | 1984 (age 40–41) [1] Singapore |
Alma mater | Stanford University (BA) [2] |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 2003–present |
Rank | Major-General |
Commands | Chief of Army (2025–present) Commander,3rd Division (2022-2025) |
Cai Dexian [a] (born 1984) is a Singaporean Major General who has been serving as Chief of Army since 2025. [3] [2] [1]
Cai was awarded the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship to study at Stanford University,where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and International Relations. [2] Cai was also awarded the Lee Kuan Yew scholarship to study at INSEAD. [2]
He also attended the Indonesian Army Command and Staff College (SESKOAD) in 2014 and attained the Top International Student.[ citation needed ]
Cai enlisted into the SAF in 2003 and is an armour officer by vocation. [2] He was Commanding Officer of the 48th Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment and subsequently Commanding Officer of the 8th Singapore Armoured Brigade. [1] He was also a board member of ST Engineering Ltd and D’Crypt Pte Ltd. [2]
Cai was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. He is the first Singaporean to be awarded with the Bronze Star Medal. [4] [2]
Prior to his appointment as Chief of Army,Cai held the appointment of Commander,3rd Singapore Division. [2]
Cai was promoted from the rank of Brigadier-General to Major-General on 1 July 2025. [5]