Brigadier General (Select) Coleman was born on August 27, 1948 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Navy in April 1968 and was discharged upon his return from Danang, Republic of Vietnam in June 1970. He enrolled in Cheyney State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1973. A high school teacher and football coach in Darby, Pennsylvania, he was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant in December 1974 following graduation from Officer Candidate School.

Following completion of The Basic School and Ground Officer Supply School, Second Lieutenant Coleman reported for duty to Camp Lejeune with 2d Marine Regiment where he served as Battalion Supply Officer, Platoon Commander, Regimental Supply Officer and S-4A. In November 1977, he transferred to 3d Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, Japan, as the Operations Officer for Landing Support Unit Foxtrot. In November of 1978 he transferred to Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia where he served as the S-4A, S-4, Supply Officer, Candidate Platoon Commander and as Director of the Marine Corps Development and Education Command Non-Commissioned Officer School.

Captain Coleman attended Amphibious Warfare School during the 1981-1982 academic year and, upon graduation, was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps Officer Assignments where he served as a Company Grade Monitor and Administrative Assistant to the Director, Personnel Management Division. In August 1985, following his promotion to Major, he was assigned as an Instructor at Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Virginia. In 1987, he was selected to attend the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

Major Coleman was again transferred to 3d Force Service Support Group in 1988, serving as the Operations Officer, 3d Landing Support Battalion; Executive Officer, 3d Maintenance Battalion; and as Commanding Officer, Combat Service Support Detachment 35, Contingency Marine Air Group Task Force 4-90. Returning to the United States in June 1991, he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps and served as the Logistics Project Officer and Head, Maintenance Policy Section, Installations and Logistics Branch. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the spring of 1992 and transferred to Camp Lejeune the following summer.

Lieutenant Colonel Coleman assumed duty as Commanding Officer, 2d Maintenance Battalion, 2d Force Service Support Group in June 1993, and in December 1994, was reassigned as the Group's Deputy Operations Officer.

Selected for top level school, Lieutenant Colonel Coleman reported to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University in August 1995. Following graduation in 1996, he reported to the Pentagon, serving in the Logistics Directorate J-4, Mobility Division as an Action Officer and Deputy Division Chief, Logistic Readiness Center.

He was promoted to Colonel in July 1997 and, a year later, returned to Camp Lejeune for duty with the 2d Marine Division as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4. In April 1999, he deployed to the Balkan Region where he served as the J-4 and Chief of Staff for Joint Task Force Shining Hope.

Colonel Coleman assumed command of 2d Supply Battalion on 27 July 1999. He was selected for promotion to Brigadier General in March 2001.

Brigadier General (Select) Coleman has a Masters Degree in National Strategic Resources. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.