A colonel in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force, is the most senior field-grade military officer rank, immediately above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general. Colonel is equivalent to the naval rank of captain in the other uniformed services. By law, an officer previously required at least 22 years of cumulative service and a minimum of three years as a lieutenant colonel before being promoted to colonel. With the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019, military services now have the authorization to directly commission new officers up to the rank of colonel. The pay grade for colonel is O-6.
William Few in the uniform of a Continental Army colonel
A U.S. Marine colonel (center) during the Vietnam War.
Colonel Jeanette Sustad as Director of Women Marines.
Image: UCW Colonel
Captain (United States O-6)
In the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, captain is the senior-most commissioned officer rank below that of flag officer. The equivalent rank is colonel in the United States Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps.
U.S. Coast Guard Captain Jessica Rozzi-Ochs of USCGC Eagle, left, and U.S. Navy Commander Billie J. Farrell of USS Constitution, right, were the first female commanding officers of their respective ships.
Navy submarine captain Michael Bernacchi, serving as a chief of staff to a flag officer
