He Pengfei

He Pengfei, born in 1946 into a revolutionary family in Sangzhi County, Hunan Province. His early education began in Chongqing, where he attended Chongqing People's Primary School in 1951 to receive basic education. In September 1957, he moved with his family to Beijing and enrolled at Beijing No.4 Middle School. In 1959, He Pengfei joined the Chinese Communist Youth League. Academically, he transferred to Tsinghua University High School in September 1963 and was admitted to the Mechanical Department of Tsinghua University in September 1964, where he performed excellently. In October 1965, he proudly joined the Communist Party of China.

During the Cultural Revolution, due to his father's wrongful case, He Pengfei was persecuted, imprisoned, and had his name changed. He worked on cargo ships between Tianjin and Shanghai. In October 1967, he was unable to receive timely medical treatment due to illness; after the help of Chen Yi, he received proper medical care. After graduating from university in August 1970, he was assigned to work at the Wudu Automobile Repair Factory in Gansu Province as a worker. In 1974, after Mao Zedong cleared He Long's name, He Pengfei was cared for by veteran revolutionaries like Zhou Enlai and was transferred to the Beijing Branch of China Machinery Import & Export Corporation, serving as Deputy Section Chief.

In October 1977, He Pengfei was transferred to the military, initially serving as an officer and deputy director in the Equipment Department of the General Staff Department. In December 1984, he became Deputy Director of the Equipment Department, and the following year, he was promoted to Director, actively promoting the introduction and cooperation of new weapons and equipment technology. In November 1992, he was appointed Vice Commander of the Navy, responsible for equipment development. He organized the formulation of the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" and "Tenth Five-Year Plan" and the 2010 development blueprint. During this period, he personally directed major trials and ensured the quality of equipment and combat readiness.

In 1997, for the first time, the Chinese Navy fleet visited the United States. He Pengfei was responsible for planning and organizing the visit, ensuring its smooth progress, which enhanced China's naval international influence. Additionally, he oversaw the Navy aviation force construction. Since working in the Navy, he had served as Director of the Navy Sports Committee, promoting the development of naval sports.

In March 1988, He Pengfei was elected as a delegate to the Seventh National People's Congress and was awarded the rank of Major General in September of the same year. He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1994. In December 1994, he returned to his hometown to participate in the laying of the foundation of the He Long Memorial Hall. In 1997, he was elected as a delegate to the Fifteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China. When his hometown was affected by the catastrophic "7·22" flood, he actively organized donations, materials, and relief efforts.

On March 28, 2001, He Pengfei suddenly suffered a heart attack in Beijing and passed away at the age of 55. His death was considered a significant loss to the Party, the military, and his hometown.