TEN YEARS!!!!
Good grief, I'd have thought they'd let you finish your apprenticeship before letting you lose on an aeroplane!
Seriously though, promotion means being in charge of other people. The question asked before promoting someone is, does this person have the personality to keep subordinates on-track and provide the necessary guidance? If the answer is no, then no matter how much experience they have, they are not ready for promotion. Conversely, if they have the right personal qualities and the necessary qualifications, then even with less than 10 years on the job they are fit for promotion.
Look at it this way, (and be realistic!) would you accept supervision from yourself if you were in the other people's shoes?
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Info noted. Plse report further.