Aubrey Coleman

Aubrey Coleman is the Business Program Manager for Microsoft’s Airband Initiative. Airband is Microsoft’s global initiative aimed at providing access to affordable broadband internet for people across the world. In this role, Aubrey works with internet service providers to provide affordable access to broadband for rural Americans who did not previously have any access to the internet. Additionally, Aubrey has led engagement efforts to bring affordable broadband to Black/African American communities in 8 large urban cities as apart of Microsoft’s racial equity initiative. Finally, Aubrey works with elected leaders and policy think tanks to draft policies and legislation to expand the construction of broadband and provide access to affordable broadband service and connected devices in underserved and under connected communities throughout the United States.  Prior to joining Microsoft, Aubrey worked at T-Mobile where he developed a public policy program that worked with civic leaders to deploy wireless telecommunications infrastructure throughout the southeastern and southwestern United States. Aubrey also worked at alliantgroup as a tax law attorney advising small to medium sized companies on how to claim research and development tax credits for their innovation, and at Alaska Airlines in the Airport Affairs group where he represented the airline’s legal and real estate interest in 50+ markets throughout North America in addition to representing the company externally with new market expansion.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Aubrey earned his Bachelor of Science from The University of Alabama in 2010 where he studied corporate finance and economics with a concentration in macroeconomic monetary and public policy. Aubrey later returned to The University of Alabama where he earned a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Science in civil engineering in 2014 after completing the newly formed joint degree program. While in law/graduate school, Aubrey’s graduate work that focused on economic development and how a strong transportation infrastructure facilitates economic development and improved funding for local education allowed him to be named Graduate Student of the Year for the university in 2014. Aubrey is admitted to practice law in the state of Alabama and the U.S. District Court in Northern Alabama. 

While not at work, Aubrey serves as an advisor to iUrban Teen, a non-profit organization aimed at exposing student of color to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and career fields. Aubrey also serves as an advisor to Black Women in STEM 2.0, a non-profit dedicated to supporting, promoting, and inspiring black women in STEM careers, as well as advocating for equitable and inclusive workplace environments for black women. Aubrey is active with Feed Oak Cliff and the Dallas Innovation Alliance where he works with civic leaders to address issues related to food deserts, access to healthy fresh foods, and lack of broadband access throughout Dallas County. Feed Oak Cliff is leading the efforts to bring a community-run grocery store to southern Dallas and Aubrey is leading the development of the business plan for investor support. Aubrey is a member of the Mayor’s Star Council Class 8 and in 2022 will serve as the Chair of the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Young Professional Advisory Board. Aubrey has partnered with Dallas County and the Communities Foundation of Texas to obtain tablets and Wi-Fi-hot spots to ensure citizens of Dallas county without access to the internet can complete the upcoming census. Finally, Aubrey has canvassed neighborhoods in hard to count neighborhoods in Dallas county to advise citizens on how to complete the census and best practices on how to interact with census workers. 

In addition to his philanthropic work, Aubrey is active in the legal community. Aubrey currently serves as the Chair of the Telecommunications and Land Use committee for the State and Local Section of the American Bar Association. On this committee, Aubrey will advise the ABA on legal land use issues pertaining to the telecommunications industry. Aubrey also is the Vice-Chair of the Science and Technology for the Public Good committee which seeks to connect members to foster innovative applications of science, technology and the law to prevent respond to atrocities, protect human rights, address inequalities and improve humanitarian efforts domestically and internationally. With both ABA positions, Aubrey is actively involved with recruiting younger attorneys to the ABA and encouraging them to take more leadership positions. Aubrey has served as a volunteer Attorney to the Dallas Police Oversight Committees Protest Project, which is actively collecting protestors statements to be used to develop new rules of engagement by police officers during public protests. Finally, Aubrey volunteers as a Voter Protection Attorney for the Texas Democratic Party where he helps remove barriers for Texans to cast their vote.

Aubrey has received numerous awards during his young legal career. Recently, Aubrey was recognized by the American Bar Association’s Section of State and Local Government with the Jefferson B. Fordham Up and Comer Award. Aubrey was also awarded the 2020 Parkland Foundation Community First Award which recognizes leaders who civic work has positively impacted the citizens of Dallas Community. At T-Mobile, Aubrey was awarded the Innovator Award for developing and implementing solutions that improved the customers experience. Aubrey has also been awarded the Engineering and Technology Directors Award of Excellence and the Lone Star Award for his work successfully lobbying for the passage of ordinances to facilitate the deployment of wireless technology to support the 5G network. While in law school where Aubrey earned his Juris Doctorate and his Master in Civil Engineering, he was awarded the Outstanding Graduate student of the year. Aubrey also was awarded the Deans Community Service Award, Order of the Samaritan, the Dean’s Community Service Award, the C. Dallas Rands Dean’s Ambassador Award and was inducted into the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society.

Aubrey and his wife Elizabeth live in McKinney TX, where he enjoys spending time with his family in Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, traveling to new international locations, playing pick-up basketball with his friends, and cheering on his beloved University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team.