John Long was named the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Delaware in March 2019.

Previously at the University of South Florida, Long led the effort to spin off a regional campus and developed the largest public/private partnership in the state university’s history — a $135 million project that included five new residence halls, a new fitness center, and a new dining hall. He also led the effort to construct a Publix grocery store on the main campus, a first in the nation.

His other accomplishments at USF included the creation of an assistant vice president for supplier diversity to focus on engagement, implementation of a streamlined business process system that contributed to increased student graduation and retention rates, construction of a new medical school in downtown Tampa, and new initiatives for public safety, resulting in a 60 percent decrease in crime.

Before joining USF in 2011, Long served for 27 years in the U.S. Air Force. From 2009-11, he was mission support group commander for the 11th Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, where he ran the day-to-day support activities, including flight line infrastructure support for Air Force One. Long was responsible for the base’s $80 million budget for fire, rescue, public works, contract, vehicle operations maintenance, shipping, security, and canine support. He also provided direct support services logistics, infrastructure, and security for the U.S. president, vice president, members of the cabinet and Congress, as well as foreign heads of state.

His earlier roles with the U.S. Air Force included comptroller of the Air Force Cyber Command, budget director of the Air Education and Training Command, executive officer to the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and executive officer to the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force.

A graduate of the University of South Florida, Long holds a master’s degree in human resource management from Webster University and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the prestigious Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base. He also studied at Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management.