DC Ling Young Ern

Mr. Ling Young Ern joined the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in 2001 and has held several key leadership roles, including Director of Operations, Division Commander of both the 4th and 3rd SCDF Divisions, Head Operations Branch at the 1st SCDF Division, and Officer Commanding of Jurong Island Fire Station. With extensive operational experience, he has been involved in the management and mitigation of numerous major incidents, including the 32-hour fire at a large oil refinery on Pulau Bukom in 2011.

In 2008, Young Ern was seconded to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to coordinate national preparedness efforts, focusing on contingency planning and capability development for peacetime crises and terrorism incidents. A decade later, in 2018, he was appointed Senior Director of MHA’s International Cooperation and Partnerships Division, where he oversaw government-to-government relations and drove capability development through partnerships with industry and international organisations.

From 2021 to 2024, as Deputy Commissioner (Future Technology & Public Safety), Young Ern led SCDF’s digital transformation, integrating advanced technology and data analytics across frontline operations, administrative processes, and logistics workflows. He also played a key role in enhancing SCDF’s training methodologies and facilities with science and technology, while advancing research to improve fire safety regulations and firefighting technologies.

Currently, Young Ern leads SCDF’s Operations and Resilience Cluster, where he continues to drive the development of new capabilities and enhance the emergency preparedness of the community.