UC Berkeley appoints Victoria Coleman to lead Berkeley Space Center program development

Former DARPA director and U.S. Air Force chief scientist takes an associate provost role to build a research alliance linking UC Berkeley, NASA Ames, and industry.

Artist’s rendering of NASA’s Ames Research Center and Moffett Field showing the future location of the Berkeley Space Center (gray buildings stretching from center to right). Photo credit: UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley has named Victoria Coleman associate provost for the Berkeley Space Center, a planned research and innovation hub in Silicon Valley.

The center is set for a 36-acre site leased from NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View and is designed to bring companies into joint work with UC Berkeley and NASA scientists and engineers.

Appointment centers on research alliances and tenant strategy

Coleman will steer campus activities for the center and has also been appointed professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences. The role includes aligning prospective tenants with faculty interests, including the new aerospace engineering program, and advancing collaborations already in motion. She succeeds founding associate provost Alex Bayen.

The Berkeley Space Center is a public–private venture between UC Berkeley and developer SKS Partners. It will offer research space for companies working with university and NASA teams on aviation and space technologies.

Mark Asta, interim dean of engineering and search committee lead, says: “She has a history of building coalitions across academia, private industry and government agencies.” Asta adds: “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.”

Career track spans Pentagon, big tech, and research labs

Coleman previously led DARPA and served as chief scientist for the U.S. Air Force. Her background includes senior roles at Airbus, Intel, Samsung, Hewlett-Packard, Nokia, Yahoo!, Harman, Technicolor, Atlas AI, and the Wikimedia Foundation, along with earlier work at SRI International and contributions to the CHIPS for America Act and Microelectronics Commons.

Coleman comments: “I’m very honored and excited. 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.”

The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026

The EdTech Innovation Hub Awards celebrate excellence in global education technology, with a particular focus on workforce development, AI integration, and innovative learning solutions across all stages of education.

Now open for entries, the ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 recognize the companies, platforms, and individuals driving transformation in the sector, from AI-driven assessment tools and personalized learning systems, to upskilling solutions and digital platforms that connect learners with real-world outcomes.

Submissions are open to organizations across the UK, the Americas, and internationally. Entries should highlight measurable impact, whether in K–12 classrooms, higher education institutions, or lifelong learning settings.

Winners will be announced on 14 January 2026 as part of an online showcase featuring expert commentary on emerging trends and standout innovation. All winners and finalists will also be featured in our first print magazine, to be distributed at BETT 2026.