From 1973 to 1975, Mr Shport served in the missile and artillery forces in the Russian Far East. He returned to the Gagarin Association after his army service, and climbed the corporate ladder from foreman to chief engineer/technical manager.
Mr Shport enrolled in a correspondence course at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Polytechnic Institute, and graduated with distinction with a qualification as aircraft building mechanical engineer. He took part in the design and mass production launch of the SU-22, SU-27 and SU-35 aircraft, and in exporting and activating for combat duty of the following unique aircraft: the SU-33 ship-based derivative, the SU-30MKK and the SU-27SM.
The Yury Gagarin Aircraft Production Association launched two conversion programmes on Vyacheslav Shport's initiative and under his immediate supervision-the assembly of the Be-103 amphibious aircraft and the SU-80 short- and medium-haul passenger airliner, seating 30 people.
From 1999 to 2007, Mr Shport served as a deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, 3rd and 4th convocations. He was deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee for industry, construction and high technology; chairman of the State Duma Expert Council for the technical modernisation of Russian industry; and chairman of the interparty parliamentary coalition Aviation and Space.
From 1999 to 2003, Mr Shport headed the Expert Council for Aviation and Space Exploration.
In 2002, he graduated from the Higher Academic Courses of the Military Academy under the General Headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces with a degree in Defence and Security.
In 2003, Mr Shport received his second higher education degree with a specialisation in jurisprudence.
From January 2008 to February 2009, Mr Shport was the director of the Directorate for Production and Technical Development at the Sukhoi aviation holding company.
On March 2, 2009, Mr Shport was appointed Vice-Governor of Khabarovsk Territory, taking charge of industry, transport and communications.
On April 30, 2009, he was appointed Acting Governor of Khabarovsk Territory by presidential decree.
On May 6, 2009, the Khabarovsk regional legislature appointed him Governor.
Vyacheslav Shport was awarded the Order of Friendship, the 300th Anniversary of the Russian Navy jubilee medal, and the titles of Top Quality Worker of the USSR Aviation Industry, and Honorary Aircraft Builder of Russia.
He is a Doctor of Engineering and Professor of the Academy of Military Sciences, and is the owner of ten patented inventions.
He holds the military rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Mr Shport is married, and has a son and a daughter.