PLA National Defence University
In 2009, Song was promoted to deputy commander of the Nanjing Military Region, succeeding lieutenant general , who had retired. He attained the rank of lieutenant general in 2010. In July 2013, Song was appointed president of the PLA National Defence University, replacing Wang Xibin. In December 2014, he replaced lieutenant general Zhang Shibo as commander of the Beijing Military Region, while Zhang took over Song's old position as president of the PLA National Defence University. 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.