From NTU to the Padang: NDP25’s Parade Commander
As Singapore turned 60, NTU alumnus Firdaus Ghazali took the spotlight as Parade Commander of one of the largest National Day Parades in the country’s history. To mark this proud moment, we invited him back to his alma mater for a walk down memory lane.
Text: Vivien Yap / Photo: MINDEF, Hillary Tan
All eyes were on the Parade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Firdaus Ghazali, at this year’s National Day Parade. An alumnus of NTU’s School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, he graduated in 2013 and has risen through the ranks of the Singapore Armed Forces to lead one of the nation’s most symbolic events.
A dream come true
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In 2002, LTC Firdaus Ghazali (left) took part in the National Day Parade as a student of Temasek Secondary School. It was there that he saw the Parade Commander in action for the first time.
“I was in awe. The commander had this aura. He didn’t just give orders but brought thousands of people from all walks of life together in perfect unison,” he recalls. “Since then, I had dreamt of becoming the Parade Commander.”
Firdaus’ dream was realised as he led the largest number of marching contingents at the Padang since 1990.
“Being Parade Commander is more than a ceremonial role. It’s about uniting people across all walks of life with one heart and one purpose,” he adds.
Late night and lessons
He recalls long nights in a tutorial room at his school building, working with peers to prepare for tough courses like Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer. While it was challenging to pull all-nighters on electric vehicle prototypes for their final-year project, Firdaus looks back on those days fondly.
“It wasn’t just about grades. We supported one another, taught each other engineering concepts and learnt the value of teamwork and resilience,” he says. Firdaus’ time at NTU was a flurry of hard work and long nights, but he remembers a passing remark from a professor that left a profound impression on him: “There’s rarely one correct answer. What matters is understanding the concept and expanding your solutioning space.”
This advice shaped Firdaus’ leadership style as he rose through the ranks in the military, reminding him to keep an open mind when faced with challenges.
Behind every great man
Firdaus has a strong support system, and it began with a campus love story. He met his wife when they were polytechnic students, and their relationship continued and blossomed through their time as students in NTU.
“We used to meet on the bridge between the main academic complex and NIE after classes to grab a meal, and I’d send her home,” he shares fondly as he stands by the site where the bridge linking NTU’s North Spine and the National Institute of Education (NIE) once was.
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Firdaus and his wife at her Convocation ceremony. (Photo: Firdaus Ghazali)
“My wife has been my pillar of strength through every chapter of my life, from university to my overseas postings, and she held the fort at home while I prepared for the parade.” Family was a constant source of support and warmth for Firdaus as he geared up for his role as Parade Commander.
“While I was on the parade grounds, she was with our children, cheering me on during rehearsals. At home, our youngest son even marched around the house correcting my commands,” he laughs.
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The close-knit family at a National Day Parade rehearsal at the Padang. (Photo: Firdaus Ghazali)
Words of wisdom
If he could offer one piece of advice to fellow NTU alumni, Firdaus says: “Don’t worry so much about having it all figured out. It’s not about perfect plans or chasing grades. It’s about who you become through connecting with people, growing as a leader and leading with heart.”
He hopes his children, and everyone else who watched the parade, came away with a deeper understanding of what leadership truly means.
“I want them to see that leadership is ultimately about service. Our future isn’t something to inherit. It’s something we must build together.”
Making national history with two other NTU alumni
NTU alumni SV4 Arlene Pang and Major Lee En Hao also made history at this year’s SG60 National Day Parade, each leading a marching contingent for the first time in their organisations’ history.
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Arlene leading the SAFVC contingent during the one of the parade rehearsals. (Photo: NDP 2025 EXCO)
Arlene Pang, a pioneer graduate of NTU School of Biological Sciences, holds the rank of SV4, the highest rank in the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC), and led the SAFVC in its first full parade contingent. Her leadership journey began on campus, where she helped build student life from the ground up, organising freshman orientation and shaping her school’s culture as Honorary Secretary of the student club. “My time at NTU taught me the value of starting something, setting a direction and building a community that lasts,” she recounts.
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En Hao leading the SCDF Guard of Honour contingent during the parade. (Photo: SCDF)
Lee En Hao, meanwhile, became the first Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer to command a Guard of Honour contingent in the parade. As Chief Programmer of the NTU Sports Club’s orientation camp, he learnt to coordinate logistics, rally people and solve problems on the fly – skills he now uses daily as an SCDF officer and mentor. “Leadership isn’t just about giving directions,” he shares. “It’s about building trust and staying calm in uncertainty.”
This article first appeared in issue 6 of U, the NTU alumni magazine.
