Air Force welcomes new chief scientist

  • Published
  • By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

The Department of the Air Force welcomed their newest chief scientist, Dr. Victoria Coleman at a swearing-in ceremony April 6.

In this role, she serves as the chief scientific adviser to the secretary of the Air Force, the Air Force chief of staff and the chief of Space Operations. She provides assessments on a wide range of scientific and technical issues affecting the department’s missions.

“I am honored to become a member of the Air and Space Force’s team,” Coleman said. “I believe that science, technology and innovation bring a lot to the fight. I am excited to be joining at a time that scientific advancement enables new capabilities for these truly technological military agencies to further strengthen our national security mission.”

“She brings a wealth of expertise in both academia and industry,” said Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Q Brown, Jr.. “She recognizes that pushing the limits of technology has always been at the Air Force’s core.”

Coleman comes to the DAF from the University of California, Berkeley, where she held an academic research appointment at the Berkeley Center for Information Technology in the Interest of Society and led science and technology policy on microelectronics and efforts to develop tools for countering digital authoritarianism since 2016.

Coleman has more than 35 years of experience in computer science and technology including as both an academic leader and industry executive. Prior to accepting the role of chief scientist, she served as the 22nd director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency where she oversaw a large suite of disruptive and innovative programs.