Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Lieutenant colonel (lieutenant-colonel in English from the French grade''s spelling) is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence. A lieutenant colonel is typically in charge of a battalion in the army.