[1] Ma was appointed Political Commissar of the PLAN Armament Research Institute in July 2004, and attained the rank of rear admiral a year later.

He was elevated to Director of the Political Department of the Navy in June 2011, and attained the rank of vice admiral in 2012.

[1] In a 2013 report published by the American think tank the Jamestown Foundation, analysts considered Ma the top contender to succeed Admiral Liu Xiaojiang as the PLAN's next political commissar.

[3] Ma had come under investigation for corruption by the Central Discipline Inspection Commission, and it is believed that he died by suicide to avoid disgrace and allow his family to receive his retirement benefits,[4] although it was also said that he had suffered from depression.

[3][5] Ma's corruption investigation is thought to be connected to the cases of the former vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission, Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong.