James E. Coleman III

James E. Coleman III serves as the acting deputy director for the Flight Operations Directorate at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Accepting the two-year-long detail in 2023, Coleman is responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing the professional, technical, and administrative functions of Flight Operations and the Maintenance Division. He is directly responsible for assuring the flight readiness of highly complex, often highly modified, flight research vehicles. Coleman participates with the directorate management team in the development and management of directorate plans and programs and ensures that Flight Operations maintenance activities adhere to all appropriate safety regulations and best practices.

Experience

Previously, Coleman was the division chief for NASA Armstrong’s Maintenance Division from 2019 to 2023. As division chief, Coleman was responsible for the aircraft maintenance professionals and the maintenance and flightworthiness of all flying assets assigned to the center.

Prior to joining NASA, Coleman was the U. S. Air Force senior enlisted advisor and interim command chief master sergeant from 2017 to 2019. In this role, he acted as primary advisor to Edwards Air Force Base’s Installation Commander, military personnel, and total force population including all aircraft maintenance operations and flight test organizations. Coleman provided continuous process improvement and authored root cause analyses for senior leadership. From 2010 to 2017, Coleman served as the senior manager for the Air Force Aircraft Maintenance and Logistics Test Squadrons for Edwards Air Force Base. Additionally, Coleman served as F-35 Operational Test and F-35 Developmental Test lead production manager, as well as providing oversight to Edwards Air Force Base’s maintenance group. From 1996 to 2010, Coleman was the debrief section chief, lead avionics technician, and F-22 avionics operational assessment and initial capability test and evaluation subject matter expert (SME) for the U.S. Air Force. Coleman collaborated across divisions and with vendors and contractors. He was also an avionics systems SME for legacy platform aircraft such as the F-15, A-10, and U-2.

Coleman’s military service stretches from 1996 to 2019, earning 25 medals during those 23 years. In addition to his roles in aircraft maintenance management and as chief master sergeant, he also served oversea assignments in Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar; United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi; Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia; Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; Thumrait Air Base, Oman; Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland; and Osan Air Base, People’s Republic of South Korea.

Awards

Coleman received a NASA Armstrong Group Peer Award, two NASA Group Honor Awards, and a NASA Armstrong Outstanding Leadership Medal.

Education

Coleman earned an Associate of Applied Science in avionics systems technology from the Community College of the Air Force in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2003, he earned a Bachelor of Science in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 2007, he earned a Master of Aeronautical Science in aerospace operations management, also from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical.