Kelvin B. Coleman is the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), where he has led the agency’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) through a period of unprecedented growth and complexity in the global space industry. With more than two decades of leadership in commercial space policy and operations, Coleman was instrumental in shaping the regulatory landscape to promote public safety, advance innovation, and support U.S. national interests in space.

Appointed Associate Administrator in 2022 after serving for years in senior roles including Deputy Associate Administrator, Chief of Staff, and Senior Technical Advisor, Coleman oversaw the FAA’s response to surging demand in commercial launch and reentry operations. In 2023 alone, AST licensed 124 space operations—representing a 48 percent increase from the previous year. Under his leadership, the office implemented organizational reforms, enhanced operational agility, and secured advanced regulatory tools and resources to keep pace with rapid industry evolution.

Coleman also played a leading role in interagency coordination, working closely with the National Space Council, NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and the Departments of Defense, Commerce, and Transportation to clarify authorities and align policies across the space ecosystem. His global leadership extended to international outreach efforts, helping U.S. allies build regulatory capacity and align with best practices in space safety and governance.

Before joining the FAA, Coleman served as a systems engineer and guidance, navigation, and control specialist at the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting advanced weapon systems programs. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Computer Engineering from George Mason University and a Master of Business Administration from Marymount University. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Executive Training Program.

Coleman serves on the Council of The Off-World Approach.