 Yang took over from Deng Xiaoping as PLA Chief-of-Staff in February 1980, joined the standing committee of the CCP Military Affairs Commission and was named a Vice Minister of National Defense a month later.He was a member of the 11th and 12th politburos, 1977-87.Yang Dezhi was awarded the rank of General in 1955, and served as an Alternate Member of the 8th Central Committee (1956–69).