For a naval officer, each morning at sea begins with a different frame of blue. Some days, the view of a hulking freighter from the bridge; on others, only open water and a pale line of dawn.
The view changes but the mission does not, says Captain (CPT) Satesh Kumar. He and his fellow sailors from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) stand watch over the sea lanes that feed Singapore’s economy and daily life.
“Since the sea will continue to be the main medium through which trade is conducted, the RSN will likewise continue to play a key role in keeping sea lines of communication open and safeguarding Singapore’s interests,” says the 27-year-old.
CPT Kumar’s pull towards the navy started from a relatively young age. During history lessons at secondary school, he learnt how navies kept sea lanes open and shaped the rise of nations by facilitating seaborne trade.
His decision to join the RSN was reinforced after he spoke with sailors at the Navy@Vivo event in 2014. The following year, he participated in the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Experience Programme, which gave him a look at the day-to-day work of the service.
“I saw the navy as a place to work closely with people while getting to harness technology,” he says.
For instance, on the ship people must act together at the same moment to get the job done. He also liked how newer technological platforms changed the way the crew performed their tasks.
From 2023 to 2024, CPT Kumar served as the gunnery officer and later, as navigating officer on the Littoral Mission Vessel RSS Independence.
He was responsible for the training and readiness of the weapons department, and subsequently, the safe navigation of the ship and the training of junior officers – the very work he had first glimpsed as a secondary school student.
Awarded The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Scholarship in 2017, CPT Kumar read war studies and history at King’s College London, then completed a master of science in security studies at University College London.
That grounding sharpened his interest in defence diplomacy – an aspect of RSN work that had stood out to him even before enlisting in national service.
Navies build trust and strengthen coordination by working together. For the RSN, this entails participation in bilateral and multilateral exercises, port calls and ship visits.
These engagements bring officers face to face with counterparts and ensure navies can operate smoothly together to tackle shared challenges, he says.
“In each new posting, you get to occupy a different vantage point.”
– CPT Satesh Kumar, recipient of The SAF Scholarship
CPT Kumar saw this up close during the multilateral Exercise Kakadu hosted by the Royal Australian Navy in 2018 and 2022, where he participated in joint serials and sailed in formation as part of manoeuvring drills with ships from other navies.
In June 2024, he represented the RSN at the 11th ASEAN Navy Young Officers Interaction hosted by the Philippine Navy, engaging with peers from across the region.
While moving between appointments has kept him on a steep learning curve, it has also given him different opportunities to engage in diplomacy.
In 2025, he did a short stint at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was attached to the Singapore Embassy in Washington DC as Second Secretary (Political), working on overall bilateral relations with the US.
Today, he is with MINDEF’s Defence Policy Office, where he formulates defence policies and strategies to continue strengthening defence relations with the US.
He works with counterparts in MINDEF/SAF and the US defence establishment, planning engagements such as the 15th Singapore-US Strategic Security Policy Dialogue, which was held in November 2025, where he also served as a delegation member.
“Singapore and the US have an excellent and longstanding bilateral relationship, spanning areas such as military-to-military exchanges, high-level dialogues and defence technology cooperation,” he says. “We also appreciate the US’ support for the SAF’s training in the US, which allows us to overcome our space constraints.”
Even though – like every sailor – he misses the closeness and camaraderie of being on the bridge with fellow sailors while out at sea, he welcomes the exposure to new roles and ideas ashore.
“In each new posting, you get to occupy a different vantage point,” he says. “Coupled with experiences from previous operational duties, I have a more complete understanding of the SAF’s and MINDEF’s strategic considerations.”
| About MINDEF/SAF Scholarships The mission of MINDEF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is to enhance Singapore’s peace and security through deterrence and diplomacy, and should these fail, to secure a swift and decisive victory over the aggressor. MINDEF/SAF continually seeks talent who are willing to take up the challenge of defending our nation. Taking up a MINDEF/SAF scholarship is a lifelong mission to contribute to the peace and security of Singapore. Answer the higher calling. Defend what matters. |
This article is brought to you by the Ministry of Defence.
