Zhang Yan (Chinese: 张衍; 1917 – 3 August 2003) was a major general (shaojiang) of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) who served as president of the National University of Defense Technology from 1978 to 1983.

Influenced by teacher and Communist Wang Jianmin (王健民), he joined the Student Counter Japanese Volunteer Army.

[1] He fought under Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping at the Battle of North Henan in 1943 during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

[1] After the founding of the Communist State in 1949, Zhang participated in the preparatory work of Harbin Institute of Military Engineering and served as director of its Political Department.

[1] In September 1978, he was appointed president of National University of Defense Technology, and served until December 1983, when he was transferred to the Central Military Commission.