Zhou Yongkang, ethnic Han, native of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, born in December 1942. Joined the CPC in November 1964 and began working in September 1966. Graduated from the Exploration Department, Beijing Petroleum Institute, majoring in geophysical exploration. With a university education. Senior engineer with a rank equivalent to professor.

Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, state councilor and member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Council, deputy secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee, and minister and Party secretary of the Ministry of Public Security.

1961-1966: Student of geophysical exploration at the Exploration Department, Beijing Petroleum Institute.

1966-1967: Stayed at the Institute waiting for job assignment.

1967-1970: Intern, technician of the geological survey team of No. 673 Factory, Daqing Oilfield.

1970-1973: Technician, Party branch secretary and brigade leader of the regional office, Geological Survey Regiment, Liaohe Oil Exploration Campaign Headquarters.

1973-1976: Director, Geophysical Exploration Division, Liaohe Oil Exploration Bureau (LOEB).

1976-1979: Deputy director, Political Department, LOEB.

1979-1983: Deputy director general of LOEB and concurrently Party secretary of LOEB Drilling Headquarters, Party secretary and concurrently commander of LOEB Geophysical Exploration Headquarters.

1983-1985: Director general and deputy Party secretary of LOEB, and deputy Party secretary and mayor of Panjin, Liaoning Province.

1985-1988: Vice-minister of the Ministry of Petroleum Industry and member of the Ministry's Leading Party Members' Group.

1988-1996: Deputy general manager and deputy secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of China National Petroleum and Natural Gas Corporation (1989-1990: concurrently commander of Tarim Oil Exploration Campaign Headquarters and secretary of its provisional Party committee; and Party secretary and director general of Shengli Petroleum Administration, and Party secretary of Dongying, Shandong Province).

1996-1998: General manager of China National Petroleum and Natural Gas Corporation and secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group.

1998-1999: Minister of the Ministry of Land and Recourses and secretary of the Ministry's Leading Party Members' Group.

1999-2002: Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee.

2002-2003: Member of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, deputy secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee, and minister and Party secretary of the Ministry of Public Security.

2003-2007: Member of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, state councilor and member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Council, deputy secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee, and minister and Party secretary of the Ministry of Public Security.

2007- Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, state councilor and member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Council, deputy secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee, and minister and Party secretary of the Ministry of Public Security.

Alternate member of the Fourteenth CPC Central Committee, member of the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth CPC Central Committees, member of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the Sixteenth CPC Central Committee, member of the Political Bureau of the Seventeenth CPC Central Committee and its Standing Committee.