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Lieutenant Colonel Willie D. Coleman was promoted to colonel on June 15 at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

Coleman is a native of Columbia.

He was commissioned in 1990 as a distinguished military graduate through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at South Carolina State University as an Infantry Officer.

His assignments have spanned all Army echelons from platoon to Joint level. In 2002, he earned a Masters Degree in procurement and acquisition management from Webster University.

His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the United States Army Command and General Staff College and he is a 2011 Senior Service College Selectee.

He is also a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College of the Defense Acquisition University and the Advanced Management Program of the National Defense University.

Coleman has served in a variety of Infantry command and staff positions.

His first assignment included various platoon and company level positions within the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, and Hawaii. From 1996 through 1998, he commanded two Infantry Companies in the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Air Assault Division, and Fort Campbell, Ky.

His first acquisition assignment in 1999 was chief, joint weapons support team and procurement officer, Defense Logistics Agency, Defense Supply Center Columbus, Ohio.

From 2002 through 2004, he served as a contingency contracting and plans officer for the Third U.S. Army, Fort McPherson, Ga.

Following his assignment officer at Third U.S. Army, Coleman was selected to be an assignment officer at the Human Resources Command, Army Acquisition Management Branch.

From 2008 through 2011, he served as the product manager for the Future Combat Systems Advance Collaborative Environment (ACE).

Coleman is currently assigned to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology where he serves as a staff officer.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Ranger Tab, and the Expert Infantry Badge, and the Air Assault and Airborne wings.

Coleman is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

His parents are Willie Preston and Elousie Ashford Coleman of Columbia.

Paternal grandparents the late John Preston and Etolia Peoples Coleman of Blair. Maternal grandparents the late Fleming and Ella Cook Ashford of Winnsboro.