New Jersey Statutes Title 53. State Police 53 § 1-4

The superintendent, the deputy superintendent and the executive officer of State Police, as well as the captain or lieutenant of each troop, in order to be eligible to an appointment as such, shall be a citizen of the United States and shall be appointed on the basis of training, experience and administrative qualifications required for the responsibilities of the office.

A commissioned officer in the State Police shall be eligible to promotion to the rank of captain or to ranks above that of captain, and a noncommissioned officer shall be eligible to promotion to the rank of lieutenant.