Chen Bingde is a native of Nantong, Jiangsu Province. Born in July 1941, he is presently a general of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in March 1962, and has been a member of the 15th and 16th CPC Central Committee. He was conferred the military rank of major general in September 1988, lieutenant general in July 1995 and general in June 2002.

Chen was also the chief commander of China's manned space program.

Sep. 1958: Graduated from college and started his career in a workshop producing both edible oil and liquor in Nantong, Jiangsu Province.

Apr. 1961: Joined the Ground Force of the PLA and was later promoted as a deputy squad leader and then a squad leader.

Aug. 1964: Appointed as a platoon leader of the Ground Force.

Oct. 1965: Appointed as a staff officer of the operation and training division at the headquarters of the Ground Force.

Feb. 1971: Appointed as the deputy head and later as the head of the operation and training section at the headquarters of the Ground Force.

Feb. 1974: Appointed as the chief of staff at a regimental headquarters of the Ground Force.

Aug. 1976: Appointed as the deputy chief of staff at a division headquarters of the Ground Force.

May 1977: Appointed as a regimental commander of the Ground Force.

Apr. 1979: Appointed as the chief of staff at a division headquarters of the Ground Force. Studied in the Basics Department of PLA Military Academy from Sep. 1979 to Jan. 1981.

Jun. 1982: Appointed as a division commander of the Ground Force.

May 1983: Appointed as a deputy army commander of the Ground Force. Studied in a senior command course in the PLA Military Academy from Sep. 1983 to Jul. 1985.

Aug. 1985: Appointed as the deputy commander and the chief of staff of a group army of the Ground Force.

Jun. 1990: Appointed as the headmaster of Nanchang Army Academy.

Aug. 1992: Appointed as the headmaster of the Academy of Army Command.

Feb. 1993: Appointed as the commander of a group army of the Ground Force.

Dec. 1993: Appointed as the chief of staff and elected as a standing member of the CPC Nanjing Military Area Command Committee.

Jan. 1996: Appointed as the commander and the deputy secretary of CPC Nanjing Military Area Command Committee.

Dec. 1999: Appointed as the commander and deputy secretary of CPC Jinan Military Area Command Committee.

Sep. 2004: Elected as a member of the CPC Central Military Commission, and appointed as the director and the secretary of CPC Committee of the PLA General Armament Department.

Mar. 2005: Elected as a member of the CPC Central Military Commission, a member of the Central Military Commission of PRC, and appointed as the director and the secretary of the CPC Committee of the PLA General Armament Department.

Sep. 2007: Also appointed as chief of the PLA General Staff.