Huang is one of a growing cohort of people with technological know-how taking on top Communist Party jobs.
Fighter jet engineer Huang Qiang has been promoted to Communist Party boss of the northeastern Chinese province of Jilin in the latest reshuffle of regional party chiefs.
The 61-year-old was promoted from governor of Sichuan in the country’s southwest and replaces Jing Junhai, whose next position has not been announced.
The appointment came after the China’s highest decision-making body Politburo set ambitious economic and tech development goals for the next decade in a meeting on Thursday.
Over the past few years, China has named more scientists and engineers to key positions at the provincial level to sharpen its technological edge and counter the US-led technological squeeze.
The officials are expected to bring expertise in areas such as rocket science, nuclear power and environmental protection.
Huang belongs to a group of rising political stars with backgrounds in science and engineering.
