Lynn Rogers Coleman (August 17, 1939 â November 13, 2020) was an American attorney who served as the third United States deputy secretary of energy from 1980 to 1981.
Coleman was born in Vernon, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Abilene Christian College in 1961 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 1964.
Coleman began his career as a lawyer for Vinson & Elkins in Houston. In 1973, he established the firm's Washington, D.C. office. During the 1972 United States Senate election in Texas, he was the campaign manager for Barefoot Sanders. A specialist in energy law, Coleman practiced before the Federal Power Commission and Federal Energy Administration. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter nominated Coleman to serve as general counsel of the newly-created United States Department of Energy. He served as United States deputy secretary of energy in 1980 and 1981. Coleman spent the rest of his career as a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.