Nie Li

Nieli, born on September 23, 1930, in Shanghai, comes from a family with a notable background. Her educational journey began in 1947 when she attended Rongzhen Children's Primary School (now Beijing Bayi Middle School). In 1948, she enrolled at North China Yucai Middle School (which later merged with the affiliated girls' school of Peking Normal University). She joined the Communist Party of China in March 1950, graduated from high school in 1953, and the following year was admitted to a Soviet preparatory class to prepare for studying abroad.

Nieli graduated in 1960 from the Leningrad Institute of Precision Mechanical and Optical Instruments in the Soviet Union. After completing her studies and returning to China, she was assigned to China's first missile research institution—the Fifth Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense—working as a technician and engineering team leader. From 1965 to 1977, she served as director of the Instrument Department at the 13th Institute of the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building.

Between 1978 and 1982, she was Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Department of the Scientific and Technological Research Committee of the Ministry of National Defense. Subsequently, from 1982 to 1985, she served as Deputy Director and Secretary-General of the Scientific and Technological Committee of the State Defense Science, Technology, and Industry Commission. In 1988, she was conferred the rank of Major General. On July 24, 1993, Nieli was promoted to lieutenant general, becoming one of five female lieutenant generals in China and the first woman worldwide to hold this rank. She held high-ranking positions in the military, concurrently serving as Vice Chairwoman of the 6th and 7th All-China Women's Federations, and as a deputy to the 7th and 8th National People's Congresses.

Family-wise, Nieli's father was Nie Rongzhen, and her family members also include her husband, Ding Henggao.