In a ceremony held at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Jan. 9, Todd A. Patnesky, U.S. Army, was promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel.

Attendees included his parents, Edward and Gerry Patnesky, of Franklin. The presiding officer was U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. John Newell III.

Col. Patnesky is the Army National Guard Counter Drug Liaison to USNORTHCOM and advises on all counterdrug programs. Patnesky received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Virginia Military Institute in 1989 and a master’s degree in organizational leadership and employee relations from Robert Morris University in 2007.

Prior to his position at Peterson AFB, Patnesky served in a number of duty assignments, including Erlangen. Germany; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Irwin, Calif.; and the Army National Guard headquarters in Arlington.

Patnesky saw combat duty in the First Gulf War as a tank platoon leader, and has been awarded numerous military decorations.

Patnesky is married to the former Debra Selva and has two teenage children, Matthew and Grace.