Former Film and Television Professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design, in Savannah, Georgia.
Started as a staffer with Universal Pictures in the 1970s, later graduating from associate producer to becoming a prodigious television director. He was heavily involved in the "Star Trek" franchise, helming some of the most dynamic episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) (16), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) (13) and Star Trek: Voyager (1995) (18). He retired in 2003.
After the Winter Quarter at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Kolbe resigned and returned home to Southern California with his wife, due to health problems.
He directed two episodes which involved a character being brought to a parallel universe against their will and impersonating their deceased (or presumed deceased) counterpart: Through the Looking Glass (1995) and Tempus, Anyone? (1996).