Colonel Long is the Commander, Space Launch Delta 30 and Western Launch and Test Range, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. He commands spacelift and range operations in support of national and combatant commander requirements, and supports operational and developmental missile system testing for the Department of Defense. He is responsible for $8.4B in assets, $280M annual budget, installations spanning more than 118,000 acres, and over 11,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel.
Colonel Long entered the Air Force as a Distinguished Graduate of the University of Washington AFROTC program with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. He has held a series of operational, staff and command assignments in ICBM, satellite and launch operations, including duties in the National Reconnaissance Office, DoD Executive Agent for Space Staff and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering. He earned a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and is a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff, the School for Advanced Air and Space Studies and the Eisenhower School.
Prior to his current assignment was the Deputy Commander of Space Delta 5, at Vandenberg SFB, California.
EDUCATION:
1997 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, University of Washington
1998 Master of Engineering, Space Operations, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
2004 Squadron Officer’s School
2011 Master of Arts, Military Studies, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College
2012 Master of Philosophy, Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies
2013 Air War College, by correspondence
2018 Master of Science, National Security and Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. July 1997 – May 1998, student, Air Force Institute of Technology, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2. May 1998 – January 1999, student, Undergraduate Space and Missile Training and ICBM Initial Qualification Training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
3. January 1999 – June 2001, ICBM Deputy Crew Commander, Crew Commander, Evaluator and Instructor, 12th Missile Squadron and 341st Operations Group, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
4. June 2001 – December 2001, Flight Commander, ICBM, 12th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
5. December 2001 – August 2005, Operations Flight Commander and Chief, Launch Operations and Integration, NRO Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.
6. August 2005 – August 2008, Chief Delta Payload Launch Integration, Office of Space Launch, Chantilly, Va.
7. August 2008 – June 2010, Operations Officer, NRO Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla.
8. June 2010 – June 2011, student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, RI.
9. June 2011 – June 2012, student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2012 – June 2014, Chief, Strategy Branch and Chief, Future and Advanced Concepts Branch, DoD Executive Agent for Space Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. July 2014 – June 2016, Commander, 30th Operations Support Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
12. July 2016 – July 2017, Chief, Commander’s Action Group, 14th Air Force, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
13. August 2017 – June 2018, Student, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. June 2018 – July 2020, Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. Sep 2020 – June 2021, Deputy Commander, Space Delta 5, Vandenberg SFB, Calif.
16. June 2021 – Present, Commander, Space Launch Delta 30, Vandenberg SFB, Calif.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS:
1. June 2018 – July 2020, Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal, with star
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant June 13, 1997
First Lieutenant June 29, 1999
Captain June 29, 2001
Major April 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2012
Colonel November 1, 2018
(Current as of June 2021)