In 2008, the 54th Group Army participated in the relief efforts of the Great Sichuan earthquake under his leadership.

[1] In 2009, Song was promoted to deputy commander of the Nanjing Military Region, succeeding lieutenant general Xu Chengyun [zh], who had retired.

In July 2013, Song was appointed president of the PLA National Defence University, replacing Wang Xibin.

[1] It was considered an extraordinary move by paramount leader Xi Jinping, as Song is not a member of the 18th Central Committee, while most past commanders of the key Beijing MR, including Zhang Shibo, had been Central Committee members.

[3] On 31 July 2015, Song Puxuan was promoted to general (shangjiang), the highest rank for Chinese military officers in active service.