Coles retired from the U.S. Government Foreign Service in 1994 with the rank of Career Minister.Coles received numerous awards including the Global Citizen Award, International Youth Leadership Institute [2011], the Bennie Achievement Award, Morehouse College [2010], Princeton in Africa Lifetime Achievement Award [2009], the James Madison Medal, Princeton University [2007], Morehouse College National Alumnus of the Year [2006], Amistad Achievement Award [2003], Distinguished Career Service Award (1995), the Presidential Meritorious Service Award (1983-1986), and was decorated by President Abdou Diouf of Senegal as Commander in the Order of Lion (1994).