Chief Coleman is a 28 year veteran of the Massachusetts fire service. He began his career as a call firefighter in the Town of Charlton in 1989. He became the youngest firefighter in the department's history to be promoted to Lieutenant in 1994. He was appointed full time in 1995 and was promoted to Captain in 1998 and served as the Captain on Engine 2, Group 3 for eight years. During that time he was also an EMT-Intermediate working on the Ambulance and was instrumental in the formation of the department's first official training program for new hires to the Ambulance Department. At that time then Captain Coleman served as the department's training officer and was also the Training Coordinator for the District 7 Central Recruit Training Program. Chief Coleman along with Deputy Chief Bill Locke of the Spencer Fire Department were the original authors and founders of the District 7 Recruit Program in 1997. Chief Coleman served in that role for eight years, stepping down in 2005 to join the District 7 Training Committee. That same year Chief Coleman received the Massachusetts Firefighter of the Year Award from state Fire Marshal Stephen Coan and Governor Mitt Romney for his efforts in recruit training.
On July 1, 2006 Chief Coleman left the Charlton Fire Department after sixteen years of service to become the first full time Deputy Chief of Operations for the Auburn Fire Rescue Department. He served in that capacity until October of 2010 when he became the Acting Fire Chief after the retirement of Chief William Whynot. Chief Coleman was selected by Town Manager Julie Jacobson to become the permanent Fire Chief and was sworn in on May 31, 2011 becoming the town's 6th Fire Chief in its proud 100 year history. Chief Coleman is an active member of Massachusetts Fire District 7 serving as the past Chairman representing the 25 cities and towns in that district from 2013 -2017. He also serves as both a Strike Team Commander for the district and as a Task Force Leader on the states Fire Mobilization Plan and serves on the Board of Directors as the District 7 representative to the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts.
Chief Coleman is a graduate of the Worcester Fire Academy, the UMASS Donahue Institutes Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program, Quinsigamond Community College, Anna Maria College and Clark University. He holds an associates and bachelor's degree in fire science and a master's degree in public administration. Chief Coleman is a nationally certified Fire Officer IV, certified Fire Instructor II, is a Credentialed Fire Chief in Massachusetts and holds the designation of Chief Fire Officer (CFO) from the Center of Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). Chief Coleman was an Instructor with the Massachusetts Fire Fighting Academy for 15 years from 2003-2018 working primarily in the fire officer programs and is on the adjunct faculty at Anna Maria College in the Fire Science program. He has contributed articles to Fire Rescue Magazine and has spoken nationally on the subject of customer service and public relations in the fire service and speaks regularly on the topic of community outreach and professionalism in the fire service.