Donnie Coleman grew up in the Great Neck area of Virginia Beach and attended Cox High School. He later graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Spanish. Donnie joined the Marine Corps after graduation in June of 1998 with his twin brother, Scott. He served as an Aviation Intelligence Officer and obtained the rank of Captain. While stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Donnie served as the Intelligence Officer for Marine Aircraft Group-29. He completed a six month Mediterranean deployment with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard the USS Nassau. There he served as the Air Combat Element (ACE) Intelligence Office for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 162 (HMM-162 Reinforced). Donnie left the Marine Corps in August of 2002 to study law at the Villanova University School of Law. He completed his J.D. in May of 2005. While at Villanova, Donnie clerked for two mid-sized firms; Knox, McClaughlin, Gornall & Sennett and Tybout, Redfearn & Pell. He also worked for General Counsel in the legal departments for Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and Triton PCS (d/b/a “SunCom”) and completed a judicial externship with Federal Magistrate Judge, M. Faith Angell of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Donnie was licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia in October, 2005. Prior to starting his own law practice, he worked as an associate attorney with the law firm of Shaheen & Shaheen, P.C.

Donnie is an active member of the Virginia State Bar, the Hampton Roads Realtor Association, the Norfolk/Portsmouth Bar Association and the Virginia Beach Bar Assocation. In his spare time, he enjoys competitive beach volleyball, softball, golfing and snowboarding. He also enjoys reading military history.