Zhou Yongkang
Shen graduated from Southwestern Petroleum University in Chengdu, where he majored in oil and gas storage and transportation. Chinese-language media have described Shen, Li Hualin, Guo Yongxiang, and Ji Wenlin as the "Four Secretaries of Zhou Yongkang". In March 1992, Shen Dingcheng replaced Li Hualin as Zhou Yongkang's secretary while Li was promoted to China National Petroleum's Houston office in the United States. In February 2014, Shen was reported "missing," suspected of being placed under investigation as part of the Zhou Yongkang case. At around the same time, several other former aides of Zhou Yongkang were detained for investigation.