Bernard F.W. Loo is Associate Professor of Strategy and War at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. He completed his doctoral studies at the Department of International Politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 2002.
He is the author of Medium Powers and Accidental Wars: A study in Conventional Strategic Stability (Edwin Mellen, 2005), and the editor of Military Transformation and Operations (Routledge, 2009). His other publications have appeared in the Journal of Strategic Studies, Contemporary Southeast Asia, NIDS Security Reports, and Taiwan Defense Affairs.
He is a regular commentator on defence matters, and his commentaries have appeared in The Straits Times ( Singapore), The Nation ( Thailand), and The New Straits Times ( Malaysia). He has been invited to speak at a variety of defence-related institutions and conferences, in China, Estonia, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
His research interests encompass war studies, strategic theory, conventional military strategies, strategic challenges of small and medium powers, and problems and prospects of military transformation. In addition to his academic responsibilities, Bernard is also concurrently the coordinator of External and Executive Education programmes, as well as the Military Transformations Programme, and the Military Studies Programme.
In whatever spare time that is left, Bernard is an enthusiastic (but less than accomplished) acoustic guitarist and home cook.
Alan Chong is an Associate Professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. He started out as a Senior Tutor with the Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1996. He completed his Ph.D. in 2002 at the London School of Economics and Political Science under sponsorship from the NUS.
A/P Chong’s primary research interests are in International Relations Theory, and linkages between Global Communications and International Relations. In this regard, his publications are concerned about expanding Nye's notion of soft power into operational uses in foreign policy. Most recently, A/P Chong is exploring questions relating to the seeming invisibility of Asian international theory.
His secondary research areas involve Singaporean politics and foreign policy, and Chilean politics and foreign policy.
Richard A. Bitzinger is a Senior Fellow with the Military Transformations Programme at the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies, where his work focuses on military and defence issues relating to the Asia-Pacific region, including force modernization and defense transformation, regional local defense industries and armaments production, and weapons proliferation. He teaches the course on “The Revolution in Military Affairs and Defence Transformation.”
Mr. Bitzinger has written several monographs and book chapters, and his articles have appeared in such journals as International Security, Orbis, China Quarterly, and Survival. He is the author of Towards a Brave New Arms Industry? (Oxford University Press, 2003), “Come the Revolution: Transforming the Asia-Pacific’s Militaries,” Naval War College Review (Fall 2005), and Transforming the U.S. Military: Implications for the Asia-Pacific (ASPI, December 2006 ). He is also the editor of The Modern Defence Industry: Political, Economic and Technological Issues (Praeger, 2009).
Mr. Bitzinger was previously an Associate Professor with the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), Honolulu, Hawaii, and has also worked for the RAND Corporation, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Affairs, and the U.S. Government. In 1999-2000, he was a Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council of the United States. He holds a Masters degree from the Monterey Institute of International Affairs and has pursued additional postgraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Adrian Kuah is an Associate Research Fellow in the Military Studies programme at RSIS, with research interests in defence economics, defence technology, and the study of the armed forces through the lens of organization theory. More importantly, he is inching ever closer to the finish line for his doctoral studies with Cranfield University.
Prior to this, he was an economist with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, an investment banker with a local bank, and an analyst with a private sector consultancy.
He has a BA (Honours) in Economics and Politics from the University of York, and a MA in International Studies from the University of Warwick. He is also a CFA charter holder.
Collin Koh Swee Lean is an Associate Research Fellow at the RSIS Military Studies Program, part of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies that is a constituent unit of RSIS. As part of the research activities to be undertaken, Collin focuses on military developments, particularly naval issues, in the Asia-Pacific and he also looks into Russia and the Scandinavian regions. In addition, he is an avid watcher on military technology. From AY2008/09 to AY2009/10, Collin served as a research analyst at the RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, where he conducted research on energy security issues, particularly nuclear energy. As such, beyond his primary focus on traditional security issues, Collin also watches nuclear energy development in Southeast Asia.
Collin is also a doctoral candidate in strategic studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. His dissertation, supervised by Associate Professor Bernard Loo and Professor Geoffrey Till, revolves around naval developments in Southeast Asia and the concepts of non-provocative defence and naval arms control.
Ho Shu Huang is an Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS), S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He has a B.A. (Hons) degree in History from the National University of Singapore (NUS), as well as an M.Sc in Strategic Studies from RSIS.
He previously worked at G1-Army, Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to set up the Army Museum of Singapore. While there, he interviewed numerous SAF servicemen and authored several of the stories featured on the Museum’s website and in the commemorative book, 40/40 – 40 Stories and 40 Years of National Service.
Shu Huang is interested in multiple aspects of the military - its history, the way the profession educates itself, the technology it uses, and its sociology, in particular, the cultural and social dimensions of the profession, and combat.
In his free time, Shu Huang enjoys off-road motorcycle trail riding and pondering the improbable.
Kelvin Wong Ka Weng is an Associate Research Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of international Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. He is attached to the Military Transformations Programme at the School’s constituent unit, the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies.
A recent graduate of the Graduate Studies in Strategy and Defence (GSSD) Programme at the Australian National University, Kelvin joined the RSIS in September 2009. His research interests revolve around the applications and consequences of technology for military forces, including the issue of oil dependency and potential alternative energy options. He hopes to develop the necessary skills and knowledge at RSIS to pursue a higher degree in the near future.
Prior to joining RSIS Kelvin was an intern at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Singapore office (IISS-Asia) where he monitored Southeast Asian conflicts for the Armed Conflict Database. He has also been a Research Assistant to the Director of Studies at GSSD in 2008.
In his spare time he is an amateur photographer and a rabid fan of giant robots.
Nah Liang Tuang is an Associate Research Fellow with the Military Studies Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of international Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. He graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Economics from Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London, obtained a PGDE from the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University and earned an MSc in International Relations from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU.
Prior to joining RSIS, Liang Tuang was a general education officer with Singapore’s Ministry of Education where he taught Economics and China Studies (Geopolitics and National Development Strategy) at the Junior College level. Additionally, he has worked for the Housing and Development Board as a quarantine housing manager and Non-Traditional Security emergency planner.
Liang Tuang’s research interests include the politics of nuclear armament and disarmament, North Korean politics and Non-Traditional Security.
In his personal time, Liang Tuang does his darnest to stay on the good side of his long suffering wife, assists with the upbringing of his hyperactive son and on rare occasions practices small bore pistol marksmanship.
Ong Weichong is a Research Fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University. He is attached to the Military Transformation/Studies Programme at the school’s constituent unit, the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies. He is also an external lecturer at the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College (GKSCSC) and Singapore Armed Forces Advanced School (SAS), SAFTI Military Institute.
Weichong completed his doctoral studies with the Centre for the Study of War, State and Society, University of Exeter, UK in 2010. He is a recipient of research grants from the University of Exeter and the Royal Historical Society. He is also an Associate of the Higher Education Academy, UK and an Affiliated Researcher with the Department of Leadership and Management, Swedish National Defence College. Prior to his doctoral studies, Weichong resumed and completed his Full-time National Service as a Project Assistant with the Combined Arms Brigade Training Centre (CABTC), 6 Division. His other academic qualifications include MSc Strategic Studies (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 2006); BA History (University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, 2005); and Cert History (University of Hull, UK, 2003).
Weichong’s articles, commentaries and op-eds have been published with the journal and magazine of the Singapore Armed Forces – Pointer and Pioneer, The RUSI Journal, The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, Defense News, Khaleej Times, RSIS Commentary Series, The Canadian Naval Review and The Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform ( GFN-SSR) Document Library .
His primary research interests are War Studies, Military History, International History, Counterinsurgency, Expeditionary Operations and Media in Conflict.
Selected Publications
“From Reticence to Norm? The Evolving Expeditionary Mindset and Role of the Singapore Armed Forces” in Gerhard Kummel & Henrik Furst (eds) Core Values and the Expeditionary Mindset: Armed Forces in Metamorphosis, Baden-Baden: NOMOS Verlag, 2011; “ Tempering the Elemental Force of People’s War”, Pointer Vol. 36 (1), 2010; Wang Gungwu and Ong Weichong (eds), Voice of Malayan Revolution: The CPM Radio War Against Malaysia and Singapore (1969-1981), Singapore: RSIS, 2009; Blitzkrieg: Revolution or Evolution? RUSI Journal, Vol 152 (6), December 2007; “War as they Knew it, Revolutionary War and Counterinsurgency in Southeast Asia”, RSIS Working Paper No.136, 2007 ; Voice of the Malayan Revolution, “The Communist Party of Malaya’s Struggle for Hearts and Minds in the Second Malayan Emergency”, IDSS Working Paper No.116, 2006.
Han Nack Hoon is a Senior Analyst with Military Studies Program at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. Prior to joining the program, Nack Hoon graduated from RSIS with an MSc degree in Strategic Studies. He had previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Sciences, and a Master of Arts degree in History at the University of Maine at Orono in the United States. Upon the completion of his MA degree in the United States, Nack Hoon completed his MA thesis, The Troubled Relationship between Suharto & the Indonesian Armed Forces from the Mid 1960s to the Early 1990s.
His main research interest is on inter-Korean relations, military modernization of South Korea, maritime security in Northeast Asia, and South Korea-ASEAN relations.
In his free time, Nack Hoon enjoys exploring Singapore and tasting the variety of Asian foods around the country. He also enjoys the company of good friends while sipping his favorite beers.
Manaswini Ramkumar is a Senior Analyst with the Military Studies Programme at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, a think tank within the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, at Nanyang Technological University.
She recently received her Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies from RSIS. Prior to that, Manaswini received her Bachelor of Arts from Luther College, USA, in Political Science and Economics. During her undergraduate degree, she received a three-month research fellowship at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, which cemented her interest in the field of security studies.
At IDSS, Manaswini would be involved in supporting the Military Studies program's teaching efforts at the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute. Her research interests include South Asian security and the intersection between democratic governance and security policy decision-making.
Manaswini jostles work life while pursuing her extracurricular interest in learning languages and the performing arts. She is a student of Indian classical dance and vocal music at the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society, and is also enrolled in French classes at Alliance Francaise du Singapour.