AUBURN — Christian F. Lichter has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force.

Lichter is an instructor pilot and assistant director of operations assigned to the 524th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. The new lieutenant colonel has served in the military for 18 years.

He is the son of Horacio and Joan M. Lichter of Auburn.

Lichter graduated in 1988 from Edward Little High School and received a bachelor of science in 1993 from Acadia University, Wolfeville, Nova Scotia. He also earned a master of science in 2005 from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Fla.