Prior to that, he served as President of the PLA Academy of Military Science and Commander of the North Sea Fleet.

He initiated reforms to improve maintenance and training of the naval force, but stepped down three years later because of cancer, and died soon afterwards.

[2] In August 1985, Zhang became chief of staff of the Qingdao Naval Base of the PLAN's North Sea Fleet, and he attained the rank of rear admiral in June 1991.

[2] In November 2002, Zhang was appointed president of the PLA Academy of Military Science, the first naval officer to hold the position.

[citation needed] Following a fatal accident with the Type 035 Ming-class submarine 361 in April 2003, Admiral Shi Yunsheng was removed from his position as Commander of the PLA Navy.