Lieutenant colonel

Lieutenant colonel (also referred to as field colonel in the Bajoran Militia) was a military rank, usually found in air and ground fighting forces (as opposed to naval services). It was superior to major and subordinate to colonel. On Earth, this rank was used by various armies, by various units of Marines (naval ground forces), and by various air forces. Lieutenant colonels of the US Army and US Marine Corps commonly commanded regiments, which were composed of a variable number (but never less than two) of companies, batteries, or similar smaller units, along with necessary headquarters personnel. Lieutenant colonels of the US Air Force typically commanded a group of two or more squadrons that had their own captains or majors in command. The lieutenant colonel rank was equivalent to the naval or Starfleet rank of commander. A lieutenant colonel was informally addressed as colonel.

In the United States armed forces, the insignia of a lieutenant colonel was a silver oak leaf. 

In Germany, this rank was translated as Oberstleutnant. During World War II, when Germany was under reign of the Nazis, these officers wore silver shoulder knots with a single metal pip. In the SS, Oberstleutnant were referred to by a different nomenclature, Obersturmbannführer (senior storm-unit leader), these officers wore on their collar four metal pips in a square, with two thin silver stripes beneath on a square field which was bordered by another silver stripe. 

The Bajoran Militia insignia for field colonel in 2369 was a gold Bajoran insignia pin worn on the collar, with one side painted black. 

Noted lieutenant colonels

 * Field Colonel Day Kannu, Bajoran allied with the Alliance for Global Unity
 * Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, US 7th Cavalry Regiment, US Army
 * Lieutenant Colonel Fellini, 498th Air Base, US Air Force
 * Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis, cavalry, Texas Militia
 * Lieutenant Colonel Vosk, Na'kuhl allied with the German SS