Ma Xiaotian



Ma Xiaotian (born 1949 in Gongyi, Henan) is a general and the Commander-in-Chief of the People's Liberation Army Air Force of the People's Republic of China. He formerly served as the deputy head of the People's Liberation Army General Staff Department.

Biography
Ma joined the air force in 1965, and learned to fly at the 2nd Preparatory Flight School, before formally entering the 12th Flight School the next year. After his graduation in 1968, he became a visiting military instructor. Ma joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1969, and beginning in 1972 saw a continuous series of promotions. In 1983, he became the deputy headmaster, and was then promoted to headmaster. In 1993, Ma began studies at the PLA National Defense University. After graduating in 1994, he became the head of staff of the 10th division of the Air Force, and was later promoted to head of the division. In March 1997, Ma became the deputy head of staff of the PLA Air Force. The next year, he served as the head of staff of the Air Force of the Guangzhou Military Region. He has also served as the deputy head and the head of the Air Force of the Lanzhou Military Region. In 2001, he became the deputy head and the head of the Air Force of the Nanjing Military Region. In 2003, Ma was promoted to the deputy head of the Air Force. In 2006, he became the President of the PLA National Defense University. Finally, in 2007, he attained his current position as deputy head of the People's Liberation Army General Staff Department. He has been a member of the 16th and 17th Central Committees of the Communist Party of China. In July 2009 he was promoted to full General.