[1] He enrolled at the National Resilience Institute in April 1997, previously having served as commander of the Bengkulu Military District.

[2] In 2002, with the rank of major general, he was appointed as experts' coordinator for the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army.

[5] In 2012, Sofyan refused a proposal by then-Vice Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama to permit media access to council budgetary meetings.

[6] He was also chairman of the Democratic Party's Jakarta branch between 2009 and 2014, and was vice president of the Badminton Association of Indonesia between 2004 and 2008.

[7] Following the 2014 legislative election, Sofyan retained his seat in the council, although he lost the speakership to Prasetyo Edi Marsudi and became deputy speaker instead.