1958-born PLAAF General Yi Xiaoguang was on February 1, 2018 been appointed Commander of the PLA Central Theater Command, becoming the first-ever PLAAF officer to be appointed as head of a Theater Command. General Yi Xiaoguang was transferred to the PLA Central Theater Command in October 2017.

(Comment:  PLAN Vice Admiral Yuan Yubai became the first non-PLA Ground Forces officer to be appointed to head a Theater Command when he was appointed Commander of the Southern Theater Command in January 2018. Yi Xiaoguang is an accomplished pilot who has flown the MiG-15, J-6, J-7, Su-27 and Su-30 jet aicraft. He has authored many books on stealth aircraft.)