A retirement ceremony was held for Lt. Col. Craig A. Engel, professor of military science, Wednesday night.

The ceremony, held in the Chick Evans Field House, included events such as the posting of colors and award presentations to lead into the retirement ceremony.

“I don’t know how you say thank-you for 23 years of service,” said Col. James Coates. “In four years, he’s doubled the size of this program.”

Engel served in the Army for 23 years, assuming command of the Huskie Battalion in 2004 as the professor of military science.

“I’ve seen an enormous change in the program,” said Cadet Battalion Col. Richard Plettau, senior political science major.

Many of Engel’s MS4’s [senior ranking] have nothing but high regard for their lieutenant colonel.

“He has an amazing amount of knowledge,” said Cadet Sgt. Major David Picchi, senior economic major. “He prepared us with a lot of hard lessons along the way.”

Engel’s wife Ieva said she is looking forward to having him home more. They plan to move back to Wisconsin where he is originally from.

Being from Wisconsin contributed to the lieutenant colonel’s decision to want to come to NIU.

“I wanted Northern Illinois because it put me close to Wisconsin, where my family is at,” he said.

After the school year ends, the couple plans to travel to Ieva’s home-country of Latvia.

“We’re going to spend a couple months in Latvia then start going through the regular life again,” Ieva said.

The “regular life” consists of the lieutenant colonel teaching junior ROTC in DePere, Wis.