Alexander Kolmakov was born on 31 July 1955 in Kaliningrad (modern-day Korolyov, Moscow Oblast), in the Russian SFSR of the Soviet Union.

He commanded a reconnaissance platoon and an airborne training company before being deployed to Afghanistan in December 1979 at the start of the Soviet-Afghan War.

On 19 August 1991, Kolmakov brought paratroopers into Moscow to protect the building of the Supreme Soviet of Russia, on the orders of Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov, one of the coup plotters, and a deputy commander of the Airborne Forces, Alexander Lebed.

[1] On 8 September 2003 Kolmakov became the commander of the Russian Airborne Forces, succeeding Colonel General Georgy Shpak, and held that office until 25 September 2007, when he was appointed first deputy minister of defense,[1] succeeding Colonel General Aleksandr Belousov.

On 17 September 2014 he was elected chairman of DOSAAF of Russia, succeeding the retired general Sergey Mayev, and was reelected to another term in December 2019.