Song attained the rank of major general in 2002. In 2006, he succeeded Huang Hanbiao [zh] as commander of the elite 54th Group Army, which is nicknamed the "Iron Army". In 2008, the 54th Group Army participated in the relief efforts of the Great Sichuan earthquake under his leadership.[1]
In 2009, Song was promoted to deputy commander of the Nanjing Military Region, succeeding lieutenant general Xu Chengyun [zh], who had retired. He attained the rank of lieutenant general in 2010. In July 2013, Song was appointed president of the PLA National Defence University, replacing Wang Xibin. In December 2014, he replaced lieutenant general Zhang Shibo as commander of the Beijing Military Region, while Zhang took over Song's old position as president of the PLA National Defence University.[1] It was considered an extraordinary move by paramount leader Xi Jinping, as Song is not a member of the 18th Central Committee, while most past commanders of the key Beijing MR, including Zhang Shibo, had been Central Committee members.[3]
On 31 July 2015, Song Puxuan was promoted to general (shangjiang), the highest rank for Chinese military officers in active service.[4]
^ abc接替宋普选 张仕波任国防大学校长 [Zhang Shibo succeeds Song Puxuan as President of National Defence University]. Caixin (in Chinese). 30 December 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
