U.S. Army Officer Erich Robert Then of Arlington, Va. was promoted to the rank of colonel in a ceremony on April 28, 2017 at the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel, Fort Myer, Va.  Then is the son of Robert and Suanne Then of Campobello, S.C. and the son-in-law of Ben and Glenda Benton of Hendersonville, N.C.

He is a 1991 graduate of Hendersonville High School and a 1995 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He holds a B.S. in systems engineering from West Point, and an M.A. in management and leadership from Webster University. 

The ceremony was attended by his parents, friends and fellow officers. Brigadier General Jill Faris officiated.

Colonel Then is currently attending the U.S. Army War College. He has served for 22 years as an Army aviator and intelligence officer, flying and commanding various   helicopter, reconnaissance fixed wing , and executive jet units. He is a veteran of the Iraq war, and numerous overseas hazardous duty contingency operations.   

Colonel Then counts himself very much lucky to be married to the former Kelli Hall Benton of Hendersonville, N.C. Kelli is a second grade teacher in the Arlington, Va. public school district.  They have two children, Erich I (13) and Abby (15).

– article submitted by Robert Then