George Yong-Boon Yeo

George Yong-Boon Yeo was born in Singapore on 13 September 1954. He received his primary education at St Patrick's School and St Stephen's School, and his secondary education at St Patrick's School and St Joseph's Institution. He was the top student in the '0' level examinations in 1970 and a President's Scholar as well as a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Scholar in 1973. George Yeo studied Engineering in Cambridge University. As an undergraduate, he was elected President of the Cambridge University Malaysia-Singapore Association. He graduated with a Double First in 1976. George Yeo then served in the SAF as a Signals Officer. In 1979, he attended the Singapore Command and Staff College, graduating top of his class. He was then transferred to the Air Force, where he later became Head of the Air Plans Department. In 1983, George Yeo went to Harvard Business School, graduating with an MBA with High Distinction (Baker Scholar). On his return to Singapore in 1985, George Yeo was appointed Chief- of-Staff of the Air Staff. In 1986, he became Director of Joint Operations and planning in the Ministry of Defence, and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General in 1988. He resigned from the SAF in August 1988 to enter politics. On 3 September 1988, George Yeo was elected to Parliament as one of three Members of Parliament (MPs) for the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC). In the 1991 General Election, he was returned unopposed as one of four MPs in the same GRC. He was Minister of State for Finance and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 13 September 1988 to 27 November 1990. On 28 November 1990, he was appointed Acting Minister for Information and the Arts, and Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in the Government led by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. He was promoted to Minister for Information and the Arts, and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs on 1 July 1991 .He was re-appointed to these posts on 7 September 1991. On 2 January 1994, he relinquished his post as Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and was appointed Minister for Health. He retained his portfolio in Information and the Arts. On 25 January 1997, following the General Election, he relinquished his post as Minister for Health and was appointed Second Minister for Trade and Industry. He retained his portfolio in Information and the Arts. On 25 January 1997, following the General Election, he relinquished his post as Minister for Health and was appointed Second Minister for Trade and Industry. He retained his portfolio in Information and the Arts. On 3 June 1999, George Yeo relinquished his portfolio of Information and the Arts to become Minister for Trade and Industry. He was re-elected as one of five MPs for Aljunied GRC in the November 2001 General Election and re-appointed Minister for Trade and Industry. On 12 August 2004, George Yeo relinquished his post as Minister for Trade and Industry and was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Government led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In the General Elections of May 2006, he was again re-elected as one of the five MPs for Aljunied GRC and re-appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs. He was the Chairman of the Young PAP from 1991 to 2000. Since 1992, he has been representing the Eurasian community in the Cabinet.