Combat Veterans For Congress-----Embedded Integrity

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is endorsing Capt. Andrew (“Andy”) J. Coleman, USAF, US Air Force Academy Class of 2002, Esq. as the 114th Combat Veteran For Congress in eight years; he is a fiscally and constitutionally conservative candidate who will work to rein in the out-of-control spending feeding a bloated government by irresponsible members of Congress.  Capt. Coleman will support the reduction of federal taxes, and will fight for measures to decrease the $20 trillion national debt.  He will vote for legislation to rebuild the strength of the U.S. Armed Forces.  He supports the freedom and independence of the individual, will protect and support the 2nd Amendment, vote to secure the wide open southern border, will support aggressive plans to defeat ISIS and Al Q’ieda, and work to replace Obamacare with an affordable and efficient medical insurance system.  Capt. Coleman will work to unleash the private sector to create jobs, and stimulate private sector business investment once again.  

Capt. Andy Coleman served his country proudly in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserve for 11 years; he resides in Owasso, Oklahoma.  Capt. Coleman is a candidate in a likely special election in the 1st Congressional District of Oklahoma. Capt Coleman is running to replace an endorsed and elected Combat Veteran For Congress, three-term Congressman James Bridenstine, Lcdr-USNR (R-OK-1), who is vacating his seat, and was recently nominated as the next NASA Administrator by President Donald J. Trump.  

Andy’s grandfather served with the U.S. Army in the European Theatre during World War II.  Andy’s father served in the US Navy as an enlisted sailor aboard the USS Ranger (CVA-61) during the Vietnam Conflict.  Andy Coleman was born on February 20, 1979 in Silver Springs, Maryland.  Andy’s father completed his studies at George Washington University, accepted a position in Kansas City, and the family moved from Maryland to  Kansas City when Andy was five years old.  

Andy was raised in Lenexa, Kansas in his youth.  Before graduating from high school, Andy dedicated his life to service—"no matter the cost.”  In 1997, he graduated from Shawnee Mission South High School, in Overland Park, Kansas, where he ran track and cross country.  Afterwards, Andy attended the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in Roswell, NM on a Falcon Foundation Scholarship.  The following year in June 1998, Andy entered the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. 

In May 2002, Cadet Coleman graduated from the US Air Force Academy with a double major in Political Science and Foreign Area Studies, as well as a minor in German; he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.  Following graduation, 2nd  Lt. Coleman served with at the U.S. Air Force Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)---a national security think tank---at the USAF Academy from July 2002 to March 2003.  He was subsequently enrolled in the Air and Space Basic Course (ASBC) at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, completing his studies in June 2003.  In July 2003, 2nd Lt Coleman report to the  USAF Intelligence Officer Course at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.  He graduated as an Air Force Intelligence Officer in May of 2004, and was promoted to First Lieutenant the same month.

Following intelligence school, 1st Lt. Coleman report to the 609 Air Intelligence Squadron (AIS), 9th Air Force (USCENTAF) at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.  The AIS focused on developments in the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa.  1st Lt Coleman served as a leader in the AIS’ Analysis, Correlation, and Fusion Flight.  In May 2005, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 1st Lt Coleman deployed to Al Udied Air Base in Qatar and led the Operations Iraqi Freedom Intelligence Cell as part of the  Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Division. He returned to CONUS on June 29, 2005.  

On May 29, 2006, 1st Lt Coleman was promoted to Captain.  Capt. Coleman resumed his reserve assignment of Analysis, Correlation, and Fusion Flight for the 609 Air Intelligence Squadron (CENTAF) at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.  On August 1, 2006 Capt.  Coleman was Honorably Discharged from active duty and accepted a commission as a Captain in the US Air Force Reserve.  While on active duty, Capt. Coleman was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Unit Award, and various service and campaign Medals.

On August 2, 2006, Capt Coleman, USAFR was assigned as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee USAFE; the unit focused on the intelligence analysis of the European Theatre in support of the US 3rd Air Force in Ramstein Air Base, Germany.  The shift to Reserve duty allowed Capt. Coleman to attend law school at the University of Kansas School of Law in Lawrence, Kansas.  Capt. Coleman worked remotely for the US Air Force Reserve, during his studies he joined his unit in Germany during academic breaks.

Andy served as an editor for the Law Review while at K U Law.  He was also a leader in the school’s Christian Legal Society and Federalist Society chapters, and a student ambassador working with new students.  Andy’s passion for the US Constitution and freedom led him to intern with the Alliance Defending Freedom, ultimately becoming an ADF Blackstone Fellow.  Andy also served as a judicial externed for a federal district judge, and a district attorney’s office.

Andy’s law school experience was interrupted after his first year of study, when he was mobilized on June 15, 2007, as part of the “surge” in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Instead of deploying with the US Air Force, he was assigned to the U.S. Army.  Cpt Coleman reported to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas on July 13, 2007 for three weeks of basic indoctrination, then he reported to Fort Bragg, NC for combat skills training.  On October 9, 2007, Capt. Coleman deployed to Camp Slayer, Baghdad, Iraq, as the Senior Intelligence Officer for the 360 Civil Affairs Brigade.  In that role, Capt. Coleman led efforts to track enemy militant activities, and also trained U.S. military personnel in counter-sniper tactics and counterinsurgency.

As the Brigade’s Senior Intelligence Officer, Capt. Coleman was responsible for monitoring local threats to the Civil Affairs military personnel.  Civil Affairs personnel interacted with local Iraqi communities to help them rebuild the country, including infrastructure, medical facilities, and markets.  Camp Slayer was routinely subjected to mortar, rocket, and direct fire.  Capt. Coleman traveled in convoys throughout Baghdad, at the risk of IED attacks, and via helicopter and fixed wing aircraft with the threat of small arms and rocket fire.  Capt. Coleman encountered persecuted Iraqi Christians during his combat tour, and promptly began routing much-needed assistance; supplies donated by his family, friends, and church—to persecuted Christians, particularly goods needed for infants.

In April 2008, Capt. Coleman’s combat tour of duty in Iraq came to an end.  He was transferred back to CONUS and resumed his U.S. Air Force Reserve duties.  Capt Andrew J. Coleman, USAFR  was Honorably Discharged from the US Air Force Reserve on October 1, 2013 after 11 years of duty.  For Combat Duty in Iraq, Capt. Coleman was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and various service and campaign Medals.

Following his tour of duty in Iraq, Capt. Coleman returned University of Kansas Law School, and graduated with a Juris Doctorate Degree in June 2010.  After passing the Missouri Bar exam, Andy became an associate at Shook, Hardy & Bacon, an international law firm.  Andy served in the firm’s global product liability defense practice, and also provided pro bono services in local family courts.  Andy thoroughly enjoyed private legal practice, but soon felt called upon to enter full-time ministry, and joined the Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  

The Voice of the Martyrs is an interdenominational ministry that provides spiritual and practical support to persecuted Christians around the world.  As VOM’s Middle East Regional Director, Andy assumed leadership over the organization’s sizable field efforts in seventeen countries, from Egypt to Pakistan.  He spent 80 to 100 days each year in some of the world’s most dangerous countries, providing oversight for various projects; a portfolio that exceeded $8 million in 2016.  These efforts included medical cases, relocation efforts, assistance for prisoners and their families, and aid to widows and orphans of Christians killed for their faith.  Andy and the VOM Middle East Field Team also supported Bible distribution efforts in restricted countries, and provided critical ministry assistance for local churches.  Andy’s travels exposed him to significant risks in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq; risks that included ISIS, Al Q’ieda, the Taliban, and Hezbollah.  

Andy’s endorsements include conservative icon Morton Blackwell (advisor for President Ronald Reagan, and the founder/president of the Leadership Institute); Dr. Everett Piper (president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, nationally acclaimed conservative leader, and author of “Not A Daycare”); Denny Garrison (former Oklahoma State Senate Republican Leader); Pam Peterson (former Oklahoma House GOP Floor Leader), and the Combat Veterans For Congress PAC.  Former Attorney General Ed Meese (under President Ronald Reagan) is headlining events for Andy Coleman in Oklahoma in October 2017.  

Andy is a member of the Air Force Association, the U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates, the National Rifle Association, the VFW, the American Legion, Rotary International, the Federalist Society, and the Christian Legal Society.  Andy Coleman signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge drafted by the Americans for Tax Reform; Andy pledged to oppose any and all tax rate increases for individuals and businesses.  Andy and his wife of 15 years, Elizabeth (Liz), have been blessed with three amazing children, James (age 14), Abigail (age 8), and Daniel (age 6).  The Colemans are members of the First Baptist Church in Owasso, OK, where Andy serves on the missions committee.

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is pleased to endorse Capt. Andrew J. Coleman, USAFA'02, USAF, Esq. who will bring to Congress private sector skills and wisdom to better solve problems in government and represent the 1st Congressional District of Oklahoma and the Republic.  If you review Capt. Coleman’s positions on his Web site, you would be pleased with his stands; they agree with the Combat Veterans For Congress Mission Statement.  We look forward to working with Capt. Coleman, and are pleased that a Combat Veteran of his caliber is running for Congress.  

If you have friends, associates, or relatives who know voters in the 1st Congressional District of Oklahoma, kindly pass this E-mail on to them, and ask them to support Capt. Coleman by working on his campaign, providing financial support for his campaign in any amount, and/or by networking with others who would be willing to support his campaign.  The military is one of the few remaining institutions producing the caliber of men and women needed to restore this nation to the greatness our Founding Fathers envisioned.  We have endorsed another Combat Veteran For Congress that General George Washington would have approved of.  He is a Combat Veteran who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount “up to and including his life.”