The first really tough jump is from LTC to “Full Bird” Colonel. Most competent career officers can make it to LTC, but there is a big dropoff to Colonel, and a huge dropoff to General.
I do not know if this LTC has much command time, but as he does not mention it much, he is likley a fair staff guy. Much tougher for a staff guy to make Colonel.
At least that is as I understood it a few years ago.
I have known many officers who had NO command time get a Bird. It depends on their military specialists. Some jobs do not have them. JAG for one does not.