Desmond Tan

Early life and education Tan grew up with his three siblings living in a three-room HDB flat in Bukit Ho Swee where his father worked as a taxi driver while his mother takes up odd jobs.

Tan attended Queenstown Secondary Technical School and Raffles Junior College before graduating from the University of Manchester with a Bachelor of Engineering degree with honours in aeronautical engineering in 1994 under the Singapore Armed Forces Merit Scholarship. He also completed a master's degree in defence strategic studies at King's College London in 2000 and a Master of Business Administration at Nanyang Technological University.

Political career Tan made his political debut in the 2020 general election when he joined a five-member People's Action Party (PAP) team contesting in Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC. The PAP team won with 64.15% of the vote against the Singapore Democratic Alliance and Peoples Voice, and Tan was elected as the Member of Parliament representing the Pasir Ris Central ward of Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC.

On 27 July 2020, he was appointed Minister of State for Home Affairs and Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment. In May 2024, Tan was promoted to Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office while continuing his stint in NTUC.

In the 2025 general election, Tan joined the newly-created four-member Pasir Ris–Changi GRC. The PAP team won with 67.68% of the vote against the Singapore Democratic Alliance and Tan was elected as the Member of Parliament representing the Pasir Ris Central ward of Pasir Ris–Changi GRC.

Controversies In January 2025, Tan faced backlash over his listening ear in a ST podcast in which his remarks about often being a ‘listening ear’ rather than solving problems during Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) have drawn public criticism.

Personal life Tan is married with three children.