In honor of the upcoming 245th Marine Corps birthday, November’s Nona Hero is a decorated officer seasoned by 27 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a jack-of-all-trades professional and boat guru who incorporates the spirit of Lake Nona in his work each and every day, and I have the pleasure of calling him my boss. This month, we meet Donald “Don” Long.
In 1971, Long, who was a young Alabama boy through-and-through, was almost drafted into the military. He took the bull by the horns by marching into his local recruitment office in hopes of meeting with a Navy recruiter so that he could tie his love for boats with his obligation to his country. As luck would have it, the Navy recruiter was not there – but the Marine recruiter was.
“With true Marine drive, he was not going to let an able-bodied boy from Alabama who knew how to shoot get away. I took the physical that afternoon,” he told me.
Long spent much of his youth traveling and relocating as a result of his progression in the Marine Corps. His many assignments include the following: detachment commander of Marine Security Guard Detachments in Mauritania, Spain, Yugoslavia, and Austria. After six years away from home, he was deployed again nearly immediately when he returned, this time to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope, which secured areas in Somalia in order to deliver food and resources safely.
“At one time, we moved eight times in 10 years,” Long stated.
Long’s specialty within the Marine Corps lies with broadcasting and journalism. He was a combat correspondent in addition to his tours of duty and worked his way up the ranks, eventually earning the rank that only one in 100,000 Marines reaches. Reaching the rank of master gunnery sergeant is one of Don’s largest honors.
“It was an honor to serve at that level to be able to influence the young Marines serving as combat correspondents worldwide from the Pentagon,” he said.
1999 saw the prestigious officer leave the service after serving as the public affairs chief of the Marine Corps at the Pentagon. Since then, Long has focused on family, his passion for boats, and a profession in chambers of commerce.
As the current CEO of the Lake Nona Regional Chamber of Commerce, Long projects his values of integrity, community, advocacy, and support amongst the region. The progressive and friendly atmosphere of Lake Nona drew him to the area; then, the opportunity to champion a chamber couldn’t be passed up. He uses his experience as a leader in the Marine Corps to tactically guide his staff into protecting and promoting our local businesses. He keeps the interests of our community close to his heart. Additionally, Long serves on the board of directors for Friends of Fisher House Orlando and is a member of the VFW and American Legion.
In addition to running our local chamber, Long owns a yacht brokerage business and stays in touch with his amphibious side. He and his wife, Madelyn, make time to water ski, cruise, and fish among their busy schedules. Their pet turtle, Fred, keeps them company.
Long is known to make a mean old fashioned as well. “Many will also say that I am an excellent amateur bartender,” he remarked.
The master gunnery sergeant has the U.S. military to thank for meeting Madelyn in Japan. She herself has a resume dedicated to U.S. organizations. And if you know them, you know that no couple is better suited than they are. Their daughter, Jayna, has also experienced the value and honor of serving the country through the Navy. Long and his family embody the concept of valor.
Photos Courtesy of Don Long
