
In Marvel movies, the J.A.R.V.I.S. system
pulls data from multiple sources to assist Ironman in various tasks. Closer to
home, defence engineers like Liu Lingyun, 29, are working to bring such
technology to life for our defence forces.
As a Development Manager at the Defence
Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), she harnesses analytics and digital
technology to design command and control systems for the Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF). These systems integrate and extract valuable insights from vast amounts
of complex information, so that military commanders can make swift and effective
decisions.
Much like the systems she develops, her DSTA Scholarship journey
has helped to simplify complex decisions and steered her towards a fulfilling
career.
“After visiting the DSTA Scholarship booth at a career fair, I was
intrigued by the contributions that engineers make to Singapore’s security and
defence and decided to pursue a career in defence technology,” she explained.
Under the scholarship, she studied electrical and computer engineering
at Cornell University, and completed a Master’s in Management Science and
Engineering at Stanford University. To broaden her non-academic
competencies, she interned at DSTA, where she experimented with fuel cell
systems as an alternative power source for military IT equipment. She also gained
business consulting experience at a shipping firm while completing her master’s
degree.
After her studies, she began her career in 2011 as an engineer in DSTA’s
Building and Infrastructure Programme Centre, designing power and electrical
systems for SAF camps. She was also part of a DSTA team that enhanced and
ensured a safe and reliable power supply for the 2012 National Day Parade sound
and lighting systems.
“It was really eye-opening to work with various committees and
agencies on a large-scale national event like the NDP. I was proud that we helped
the performers put on a well-executed show that Singaporeans can look forward
to each year,” she said.
A year later, Lingyun took
up an opportunity to rotate within DSTA to the C4I Development Programme Centre,
where she designed sense making systems that process data shared between
government agencies and the SAF. These include systems that enable maritime
agencies to profile and detect potential threats in advance; and help the Republic
of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) commanders evaluate possible courses-of-action to
optimize mission effectiveness. Now, she works on a cross-agency crisis
information management system that leverages data analytics to help the
Singapore Army and Home Team in their joint counter-terrorism efforts.
“In the course of my defence engineering career, I’ve been exposed
to a diverse range of projects which have deepened my knowledge and skills
across engineering domains. This culture of learning and innovation is
encouraged at DSTA, and my colleagues and SAF partners are very open to sharing
knowledge and experiences as well. It is rewarding to see our projects put into
actual use, and to know that we have helped empower the SAF to be more
capable,” she said.
Looking forward, her advice for budding engineers would be to stay
innovative and resourceful. “Engineering problems of the future will be more complex
and cross-domain. It is always good to look for inspiration and solutions
outside of your field of expertise,” she reflected.