The Digital Ops Tech Centre Enhances In House Software Engineering for the SAF: Senior Minister for Defence Heng Chee How

Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Defence Heng Chee How visited the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS)'s Digital Ops-Tech Centre (DOTC) this morning, where he was briefed on the DOTC's role and capabilities. SMS Heng viewed live demonstrations of digital products developed and launched by the DOTC to support the Ministry of Defence and the Singapore Armed Forces (MINDEF/SAF)'s needs.

During the visit, SMS Heng engaged DOTC personnel and the pioneer batch of Operationally-Ready National Servicemen who are software engineers by profession. These NSmen have been redeployed to the DIS under the Enhanced Expertise Deployment Scheme. They were participating alongside DOTC personnel in a DOTC-organised hackathon, aimed at bringing together developers and users across MINDEF/SAF to co-develop digital prototypes for the SAF.

Speaking after the visit, SMS Heng underscored the importance of digitalisation for the SAF and the DOTC's role in enhancing the SAF's operational capabilities. "Digital technologies are both an opportunity and a threat in a rapidly-evolving global landscape. For this reason, we must be able to harness the benefits of software and artificial intelligence to remain effective and ready for future challenges. To this end, the DOTC has been successful in building up critical in-house software engineering capabilities for the SAF to deliver secure and impactful products." He acknowledged the DOTC's role in enhancing the SAF's in-house digital workforce by developing credible competencies and teams that align with industry standards. "Success in the digital space is vastly dependent on the quality of its people and practices. It is encouraging to see the diversity of tech professionals at the DOTC working closely together on shared goals and empowered to drive meaningful change," he said.

SMS Heng added that the experiences of these NSmen will enable the SAF to tap into a wider horizon of perspectives and knowledge in tech practices and product development. Emphasising the importance of leveraging our NSmen's expertise to respond to contingencies and tackle future challenges, he said, "In times of need, our NSmen will play an important role, whether in scaling up our developer teams or providing niche expertise to aid in rapid solutioning. To do this, we will need to build up strong partnerships and teamwork with our regular digital workforce during peacetime through their annual NS contributions."

ME4A(NS) Caleb Chiam, an NSman with the DOTC, said, "Participating in the hackathon gave me a chance to contribute my civilian expertise in software development to address real-world challenges faced by the SAF. The people, practices, and standards at the DOTC also match industry standards, allowing for effective collaboration as we harness the best of our civilian and military knowledge to tackle problem spaces. This experience has also deepened my sense of purpose and connection to the unit."

As the centre of excellence for the SAF's digital expertise, the DOTC cultivates an in-house engineering and product development core that builds digital products for the SAF and advocates best practices in ops-tech. The DOTC works closely with users across MINDEF/SAF to develop digital platforms, which have been operationalised across the SAF and used by hundreds of agencies. One example is Pinpoint, a secure digital platform designed for the storing, searching, and sharing of images and videos on the cloud, allowing MINDEF/SAF and public officers to collaborate better using technology. Its upcoming AI-powered semantic and reverse image search capabilities can help agencies find relevant data quickly and authenticate sources readily to combat misinformation.

"We started as a small team in late 2022 with the aim of creating a quality in-house software engineering core in the DIS, for the SAF. In the first year we focused on upskilling, bringing in tech professionals with a desire for public-service, and establishing best-practices in tech, policies and environments. In 2024, it came together in an operational DOTC, and our in-house ability to bring ideas into reality. We worked closely with the SAF, helping people solve problems with technology." - Colonel David Kok, Head DOTC

"Since our launch in late March this year, Pinpoint has onboarded over 300 units/agencies from MINDEF/SAF and WOG. The platform supports media organisation, photoshoot planning, real-time media communications, and internal training. Working closely with users to shape Pinpoint has been very rewarding, and their feedback has been highly positive. Our team is excited and committed to further enhancing collaboration and efficiency across MINDEF/SAF and WOG." - Eunice Lee, Product Manager of Pinpoint