Doubt that's true. Officer role in HQ is a SEO1-level role - on par with SH/LH. I've seen officers promoted to SEO1 while at HQ before (they will gain a 'senior' in front of their designation).

Someone commented about going back to school as HOD - since that's a SEO2/3-level role, that definitely helps accelerate things. But I think OP's move back to school without portfolio probably slowed things down somewhat, at least in the short term.