The University of California, Berkeley has named Victoria Coleman, former chief scientist for the U.S. Air Force and past head of DARPA, as Associate Provost to lead program development at the planned Berkeley Space Center in Silicon Valley.
Coleman, who currently leads Airbus’s Silicon Valley innovation center, will begin her new role this month. She has also been appointed a professor in UC Berkeley’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, where she was previously a visiting professor. Since 2016, she has served as a senior advisor to CITRIS and the Banatao Institute within the College of Engineering and played an advisory role during the launch of the college’s aerospace engineering program.
The Berkeley Space Center is set to be built on 36 acres leased from NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View. The joint public-private venture between UC Berkeley and SKS Partners aims to foster collaboration among university researchers, private companies, and NASA scientists on advancements in aviation and space exploration.
Mark Asta, interim dean of engineering at UC Berkeley and leader of the search committee for Coleman’s appointment, commented on her background: “She has a history of building coalitions across academia, private industry and government agencies,” said Asta. “We’re looking for the next director to expand those coalitions to advance the air and space center. The ability to bring people together towards a common vision is one of her strengths.”
Asta noted that Coleman will work closely with faculty members to align research interests between campus researchers and tenants at the center.
“I’m very honored and excited,” Coleman said. “I don’t know of any other research hub that has all the aspects of the Berkeley Space Center: government involvement through NASA, industry engagement and academic research. It’s a game-changer for how the UC Berkeley campus is present in and influences what goes on in Silicon Valley. With Berkeley there, in my view, you will see more than a step up in how the academics and R&D of the school impact the Valley and its growth.”
Coleman highlighted her goals for uniting various sectors involved with space technology: “I see immense opportunity at the Berkeley Space Center to unite the campus community working on space and discovery with innovators pursuing advanced aviation and autonomous transportation,” she said. “Together, we can create a vibrant ecosystem where fundamental curiosity meets innovation in the national interest, ensuring that our work has impact from the lab bench to orbit and beyond.”
Her career includes significant roles influencing U.S. microelectronics policy through contributions to major legislation such as CHIPS for America Act as well as leading initiatives while serving as Chief Scientist for the U.S. Air Force.
As associate provost at UC Berkeley’s new center, Coleman will promote interdisciplinary research focused on autonomy, resilience, sustainability in aerospace technologies—including trusted microelectronics for mission-critical systems—and dual-use innovations supporting both national security objectives and commercial growth.
Looking ahead at future needs in aerospace research talent development: “We will need a great deal of talent and innovation as a nation in order to prevail in the space competition for safe and sustainable exploration, economic growth and national security,” she said. “The Berkeley Space Center is the right project at the right time.”
Coleman holds a Ph.D. from University of Manchester (UK) with earlier teaching positions at University of London before moving into leadership roles spanning SRI International—where she helped develop Siri technology—Intel, Samsung Electronics Co., Hewlett-Packard Company (HP), Nokia Corporation, Yahoo!, Harman International Industries Inc., Technicolor SA., Atlas AI Inc., Wikimedia Foundation Inc., DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), U.S Air Force Office; culminating most recently with Airbus SE.
She is an elected member of National Academy of Engineering (NAE) who has received multiple honors including Forbes 50 Over 50: Innovation list recognition.
