The University of California, Berkeley has named Victoria Coleman, former chief scientist for the U.S. Air Force and previous head of DARPA, as Associate Provost to lead its activities at the planned Berkeley Space Center in Silicon Valley.

Coleman, who is currently leading Airbus’s Silicon Valley innovation center, will also join UC Berkeley’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences as a professor. She previously served as a visiting professor in the department and has been involved with CITRIS and the Banatao Institute since 2016. Her background includes advising on the development of UC Berkeley’s new aerospace engineering program.

The Berkeley Space Center, announced in 2023, is set to be constructed on 36 acres leased from NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View. The initiative is a joint venture between UC Berkeley and SKS Partners and aims to bring together university researchers, private companies, and NASA scientists to collaborate on aviation and space exploration technologies.

Mark Asta, interim dean of engineering at UC Berkeley and leader of the search committee that selected Coleman, commented on her appointment: “She has a history of building coalitions across academia, private industry and government agencies. 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 also emphasized that Coleman will work closely with faculty members to align research interests between campus researchers and future tenants at the center.

Coleman expressed enthusiasm about her new role: “I’m very honored and excited,” she 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 brings four decades of experience spanning government service, industry leadership roles—including positions at Intel, Samsung, Hewlett-Packard, Nokia—and academic appointments both in Europe and California. Her work has focused on advancing high-integrity systems for avionics as well as trusted microelectronics.

“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,” Coleman 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.”

During her tenure as Chief Scientist for the U.S. Air Force from 2021–2024, Coleman contributed significantly to shaping U.S. microelectronics policy through efforts related to the CHIPS for America Act—legislation designed to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing—and helped establish programs such as Microelectronics Commons within defense research structures.

Her leadership also oversaw initiatives like a $300 million effort aimed at mission autonomy in air/space systems; she was instrumental in launching an Air Force-affiliated research center led by Howard University—the first such partnership with an HBCU.

As associate provost at UC Berkeley’s new center, Coleman plans to support interdisciplinary research portfolios while maintaining an active group focused on next-generation aerospace technologies including autonomy, resilience, sustainability practices such as debris management or autonomous repair systems.

Looking ahead at challenges facing aerospace advancement nationally she stated: “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... The Berkeley Space Center is the right project at the right time.”

Born in Greece with academic roots from Manchester (UK) where she earned her Ph.D., Coleman later taught computer science at University College London before transitioning into technology leadership roles across major corporations like SRI International (where she helped develop early Siri technology), Intel Corporation (directing trust/security labs), Samsung Electronics (VP Computer Science Lab), Nokia (VP Emerging Platforms), Yahoo!, Harman International Industries among others.

She was recognized by Forbes’ 50 Over 50: Innovation list this year following numerous honors including election into National Academy of Engineering; she continues serving advisory roles across scientific boards influencing both national defense priorities (Air Force/Space Force) as well as broader technological strategy.