Desmond Tan (politician)

Desmond Tan
陈国明
Deputy Secretary-General of the
National Trades Union Congress
Assumed office
30 June 2022
Serving with Heng Chee How
Secretary-GeneralNg Chee Meng
Preceded byChee Hong Tat
Member of Parliament
for Pasir Ris–Changi GRC
Assumed office
4 May 2025
Preceded byConstituency established
Majority31,955 (35.36%)
Member of Parliament
for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
In office
10 July 2020  15 April 2025
Preceded byPAP held
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Majority44,466 (28.30%)
Personal details
Born (1970-09-13) 13 September 1970
Singapore
Political partyPeople's Action Party
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Manchester (BEng)
King's College London (MA)
Nanyang Technological University (MBA)
AwardsSAF Overseas Medal (Enhanced)
NATO (ISAF) Medal
Military service
Branch/serviceSingapore Army
Years of service1988–2016
RankBrigadier-General
CommandsChief of Staff – General Staff
Director of Joint Operations
National Contingent Commander
Chief Guards Officer
Director of Public Affairs
Battles/wars

Desmond Tan Kok Ming (Chinese: 陈国明; pinyin: Chén Guómíng; born 13 September 1970) is a Singaporean politician, union leader and former brigadier-general. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP), as part of a PAP team, representing the Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC between 2020 and 2025 and currently, as part of a PAP team, representing the Pasir Ris–Changi GRC since 2025. Tan was the Minister of State for Home Affairs and Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment concurrently between 2020 and 2022. and now the Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office since 2024. He is also the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trade Union Congress since 2022.

Prior to entering politics, Tan had served 28 years in the Singapore Army under the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and attained the rank Brigadier-General. He left the SAF in 2017. He had also served as chief executive director of the People's Association between 2017 and 2020.

Tan made his political debut in the 2020 general election when he joined a five-member PAP team contesting in Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC and they won with 64.15% of the vote.