Prof Lui Pao Chuen is currently the Temasek Defence Professor at the Temasek Defence Systems Institute, an educational institute formed as a strategic alliance between National University of Singapore (NUS) and US Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). In his role as the inaugural Temasek Defence Professor, he continues to nurture the next generation of defence scientists and systems engineers through the teaching of the Master of Defence Technology and Systems programme and short courses.
Prior to this, Prof Lui served 41 years in the Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and 22 years as its first Chief Defence Scientist. During this time, he played a pivotal role in establishing the groundwork for Singapore's defence capacities within the army.
Prof Lui is a member of the Changi Airport Group Executive Committee for Airport Development, member of the Board of Governors in NUS High School, member of the MPA Next Generation Port 2030 Steering Committee and member of CARTS (Committee on Autonomous Road Transport in Singapore). He also sits in the Technology Advisory Panel of Sembcorp and is a senior adviser to the President of Nanyang Technological University.
He served as an adviser to the National Research Foundation, Singapore Prime Minister’s Office and adviser to several ministries and government agencies such as the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of National Development and the Land Transport Authority. He was also an adviser to the President of NUS and a board member of the Economic Development Board. He served as Chairman of the Board in Jurong International and DSO National Laboratories. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees in Singapore University of Technology & Design.
Prof Lui is a fellow of the Singapore Academy of Engineering, the Singapore National Academy of Sciences and an honorary fellow of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations. He received the National Science & Technology Medal for his outstanding leadership in building up the nation’s science and technology capabilities. He was inducted into NPS’ Hall of Fame for modernising the Singapore military, establishing an operations analysis organisation within MINDEF that focuses on information technology, systems engineering, and operations research. He received the rare Pioneer Award of International Council on Systems Engineering for dedicating his life to systems thinking and application, resulting in both an unparalleled impact in Singapore, and advances in the development of systems engineering around the world. His other accolades include the President Medal from the Institute of Physics Singapore, the Lifetime Engineering Achievement Award from the Institution of Engineers Singapore, the Distinguished Service Silver Award from the Singapore Scout Association, the Defence Technology Medal (Outstanding Service) from MINDEF, as well as the Aviation Pioneer Award from the Singapore Institute of Aerospace Engineers.
Prof Lui holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from NUS, a Master of Science in Operations Research & Systems Analysis from NPS and attended the Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School.