When ME4 Damien Kee Wei Hao chose a Double Degree in Liberal Arts and Law at NUS, it wasn’t prestige he was after — he was building a way of thinking.

“Law taught me how to build sound arguments, challenge assumptions, and work within ambiguity. Liberal Arts taught me how to think boldly and across boundaries,” he reflected. “Together, they’ve shaped how I approach intelligence work — meticulous in analysis, creative in synthesis.”

That mindset led Damien to the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), where he now serves as an Open Source Intelligence eXploitation (OSIX) Analysis Officer (AO).

A Mission With Meaning

Damien’s path wasn’t the conventional scholar’s route. After graduation, he signed on with a regular contract, drawn by the chance to put research and analysis into action. “I wasn’t drawn to legal practice per se, but rather to how law reveals the way information shapes decisions, behaviour, and institutions. In hindsight, it was a natural stepping stone to a career in intelligence,” he explained.

His commitment didn’t go unnoticed. While in training, Damien was nominated for and later awarded the SAF Merit Scholarship (SMS). “In a sense, I didn’t choose the scholarship before the job — I chose the job and kept giving my best at every opportunity. The SMS came as recognition after the fact, and I’m grateful for what it has unlocked.”

Intelligence in Action

In OSIX, Damien collects, analyses, and interprets publicly available information to deliver actionable insights. “My mission is to deliver intelligence across diverse threat landscapes, safeguarding the peace and security of our nation,” he said.

But intelligence work, to him, goes beyond data. Currently attached as an Instructor at the Officer Cadet School (OCS) DIS Wing, he mentors 12 cadets through their training journey.

“This role has given me a new appreciation for the human side of intelligence,” he shared. “Leadership is not just about being sharp or fast, but also about being supportive, honest, and present.”

Growing Through Opportunities

Along the way, Damien has benefited from a wide range of professional development opportunities that have stretched him both technically and personally. As an Analyst, he has taken open-source intelligence certification courses and gained cross-domain exposure to integrate more effectively with service-level operations.

As an Instructor, he had the opportunity to hone his teaching methods at the SAF Instructor Course and participate in DIS Wing Courses alongside cadets. This broadened his understanding of the other DIS vocations, namely the Digital Intelligence Systems Engineers (DISEs) and Command, Control, Communications and Computers Experts (C4Xs).

Data With a Human Dimension

One memory as an AO that stands out for Damien was being on duty on National Day 2024. “Although it was a public holiday, morale was high on the Ops Floor as the team found the work meaningful and interesting. Our Commanders even brought us dinner and discussed our findings with us,” he recalled.

Later that evening, he joined his family for the fireworks. “That moment — coming off a good day of work at Ops Floor to quality time with my family — crystallised why I do this work. It was gratitude, pride, and clarity all at once,” he mused.

Looking ahead, he hopes to deepen his expertise in OSINT and broaden his understanding of manpower policies to better support his team. “I believe good analysis comes from analysts who feel recognised and engaged,” he emphasised.

His advice for aspiring officers?

“Be curious. Read widely. Develop the habit of asking, ‘Why?’ and ‘What if?’ You don’t need to know everything — just be the kind of person who’s always learning.”