CAPT Singer was born in Champaign, Illinois. He began his military career as an Army enlisted man serving in the Second and Seventh Infantry Divisions. A Phi Beta Kappa scholar, he later graduated from Reed College, Portland, Oregon in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in physiological psychology. As a National Institutes of Health Fellowship recipient, he completed his graduate studies at Yale University in 1977, earning a Masters of Science, Masters of Philosophy, and Doctorate degree in clinical psychology.

From 1976 to 1979 he served as a Biomedical Science Corps Officer in the US Air Force (USAF). He completed his clinical residency at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas and later served with the Strategic Air Command as a Department Head at the Base Hospital, Loring AFB. Limestone, Maine. Following an inter-service transfer, CAPT Singer received his commission as a Naval Officer in 1980. Following training, including flight training, he was designated as an Aerospace Experimental Psychologist (#74) and received his wings in 1981. He completed training at the Naval Postgraduate School in the Aviation Safety Officer Program and went on to serve as an Aeromedical Safety Officer and member of a three-person aviation mishap investigation team at Commander Naval Air Pacific, North Island, San Diego, California.

From 1983 to 1989, CAPT Singer served in several assignments of increasing responsibility at the Naval Air Development Center, Warminster, Pennsylvania, concluding his tour there as Superintendent, Human Factors and Protective Systems Division. With a staff of 110 scientists and engineers, his division won several national awards for research achievements in the areas of human factors, acceleration and thermal physiology, personal protective clothing and devices, and medical support services for subjects under stress.

In 1989 CAPT Singer reported to the Crew Systems Division, Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, DC, as the Special Systems Program Manager where he directed the engineering development phase of the Advanced Technology Crew Station Program, and also served on several classified special projects. In 1991 he was assigned to the Naval Medical Research and Development (R&D) Command, Bethesda, Maryland, where he served in several positions managing operational, environmental, and infectious disease R&D, including a two-year assignment as the Executive Officer. He concluded his tour there as the Commanding Officer, responsible for 1,250 personnel and 11 facilities world-wide. Captain Singer then assumed duties as the Deputy Department Head, Human Systems Science and Technology (S&T) Department at the Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia in 1998. He retired from active duty in 2002.

Dr Singer subsequently served as the civilian Director, Biological and Medical S&T Division at the Office of Naval Research (2002-2013). His group was recognized for, among other things, its R&D management of QuikClot, a hemostatic agent for use in combat casualty care---now a part of the first aid kit of every combat marine. He was later tasked by the Secretary of the Navy to lead a select team to revise and update guidelines and regulatory requirements for human subject research protections in the Department of the Navy. He also coauthored the revision of Department of Defense regulations in this area. As part of that process, he oversaw the development of and eventually directed the Research Protections Division at ONR, whose mission was to monitor and ensure compliance with research protections for all human and animal subjects participating in Navy and Marine Corps-sponsored R & D, test, and evaluation. Dr Singer was awarded the Navy Civilian Superior Meritorious Service Medal for his efforts in this area.

CAPT Singer served as guest lecturer at the Naval Academy and as an adjunct assistant professor of health care sciences at the George Washington University School of Medicine. He was a Fellow of the Human Factors Association, Associate Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association, Fellow of the Yale Science and Engineering Association, and was a member of other professional organizations.

Among Captain Singer's military achievements were his selection as a Navy NASA Mission Specialist Candidate (1986-1991) and receipt of a Navy Project Leadership Award. Military awards included: the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold Stars, the Navy Commendation Medal, the USAF Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal, and various other service medals.

Captain Singer is married to the former Ann K. Widmer of Scotia, New York. They have two daughters: Rachael and Lindsay.