Background of Richard Long
As a native Californian, I spent most of my formative years in the Boy Scouts on the frontiers of Alaska and California hunting and fishing. I joined the Army Corps of Engineers at age 17. After discharge, I discovered the ocean in Monterey and have never been far from it. I attended one of the first scuba instructor’s course in 1960, and continue to be an active diver.
During my initial diving years, I was a competitive spear fisherman. I loved the hunt. Now, I see I was taking lobsters older than I was. Since then, I have reached the conclusion that, if over fishing were to continue at the current rate, entire populations of fish will cease to exist.
I am an advocate for the very creatures I grew up hunting. I am a conservationist but not a protectionist. I believe we need common sense solutions to environmental policy and I am engaged in several conservation efforts. However, I recognize the need for strategic and adaptive approaches to natural resources planning and ecosystem management. The primary challenge of a growing California involves balancing multiple land uses with social, political, and economic goals, while striving to maintain the health and sustainability of the ecosystem. Adding to the complexity is the need to comply with natural resource regulations and to view the consequences of land use at both the local and national levels. I believe fish and wildlife management have three basic components: research which provides the information needed to determine how resources can be used recreationally and commercially and yet sustain the resource and protect the environment; a process for access or allocation, who, how many, where and under what conditions; and enforcement which aims to ensure the access/allocation rules are obeyed.
In 1960 I started my business with $2,800 and an old air compressor. Today we do millions of dollars, employ 85 people and ship all over the world. We are state-of-the-art in our field. I was at the right place at the right time and worked with early pioneers like Cousteau, Scott Carpenter, the Navy Underwater Demolition Teams, the Navy Seal Teams, and on Sea Lab 2 and 3. I solved the previously insurmountable problem of keeping divers warm at any depth. My business took me all over the world designing or consulting on the equipment or protocols to explore the oceans. Today I serve as a consultant for the U.S. Navy, NOAA, the National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian, among many others.
My role requires me to work with engineers, physicians and scientists reviewing data and the recommendations of various disciplines to solve a particular problem or mission. I evaluate the information in light of the task at hand and ask penetrating questions to develop the most informed approach. There are often conflicting views that need to be sorted out before I can make the best decision in the long-term interest of the constituency. For the most part I have been the lead to keep the group on the subject and a consensus builder between interest groups or personalities. I did this even after joining a board in which lawsuits were already filed.
I am active in policy development, and am involved in regional and national ocean management initiatives. California is facing real challenges and pressures as our natural resources are shrinking and population increasing. We must see that sustainable use of resources is created or maintained. Upon reviewing my attached history and awards, I believe you will find my personality, experience and past success make me uniquely qualified to serve successfully as a Commissioner on California’s Fish and Game Commission. I will insure that I have read and am familiar with the information supplied by staff prior to a meeting. If I have questions I will ask them in advance so that I am informed and ready to make educated decisions at the meetings.
You will be receiving letters of endorsement of my candidacy from elected officials, scientists, engineers, educators, conservationists and sportsmen organizations.
Biographical Summary
1965 – United States Navy Superior Accomplishment Award
1981 – Co-recipient of the Inventory of the Year – San Diego Patent Law Association
1982 – San Diego small business leader of the year
1991 – NOGI (New Orleans Grand Isle, “Academy Award” of Diving) award for education
1994 – NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) Lenny Greenstone award for safety
1994 – Los Angeles County Underwater Instructors’ Association – honoree for diving safety and education
1995 – Diver of the Year award from Beneath the Sea Show
1996 – DAN (Diver’s Alert Network) Diver of the Year Award
1997 – California Scuba Service Award
2000 – NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) Hall of Fame
2003 – Diver of the Year, Our World Underwater
2004 – DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) Reaching Out Award for lifetime achievement
2006 – ADCI (Association of Diving Contractors International) Commercial Diving Hall of Fame
2006 – SDOF (San Diego Oceans Foundation) Roger Revelle award for life time dedication to the stewardship of the ocean
Various community awards over the years, i.e. Optimist of the Year
National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Instructor No. 49
Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
YMCA Diving Instructor
I have developed training courses for drysuit diving for NAUI and worked with PADI and Scuba Schools International (SSI).
Currently developing thermal protection equipment and procedures and teaching instructors how to teach and use advanced techniques in diver thermal protection.
Invited lecturer at hundreds trade shows and symposiums
Drysuit Instructor Guide and Student Workbook
Diving Dry – video tape
Be A Responsible Diver – Video and audio tapes
Thermal Guidelines – A mathematical model for computing and insulation required by divers to keep warm under varying circumstances.
DrySuit Diving – book
Drug Abuse – And Off-Shore Safety – An advisory bulletin from the National Ocean Industries Association
Be Warm – video tape
Developed the thermal guidelines to assist divers in choosing appropriate thermal protection for their body types, water temperature and activity level.
Taught at U.S. Navy diving schools and commercial diving schools in this country and in others.
Historical Diving Society USA
IANTD (International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers)
Florida Institute of Technology
Santa Barbara City College – Commercial Diving School
2004 – Present DUI, Inc. (Diving Unlimited International) Chairman of the Board
2004 – Present California Ships-to-Reefs Committee Chairman
2002 – Present CEMR (Coalition for Enhanced Marine Resources)
2001 – 2004 Diver’s Alert Network (DAN)
1963 – 2003 DUI, Inc. (Diving Unlimited International) President and CEO
1994 – Present San Diego Oceans Foundation, Past President
1998 – 2000 CARE Board, California Certified Reef Enhancement
1997 – 99 DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) European Development
1955 – 99 DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) Board – Education Committee
1993 – 97 Scuba Diving Resource Group (SDRG) – An industry safety organization (Responsible Diver Program)
1978 – 82 Small Business Council for the San Diego Chamber of Commerce
1987 – 89 Safety Awareness Committee for DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) Publications on safety and accident investigation:
· Incident and Claim Reporting
· Advertising and Marketing Guidelines
· Safety Considerations – When You Prepare Instructions for Diving Equipment
· Product Documentation Guidelines
1984 Committee on Drug Inspection for Off-Shore Oil Programs for the National Ocean Industries Association
1980 and 1986 San Diego Delegation of the White House Conference on Small Business, Chairman
1981 – 83 California Conference on Small Business Energy Issues
1982 – 86 National Ocean Industries Association’s Small Business
1982 Committee for the restructure of the California State Small Business Conference
1973 Papers Committee for the first diving safety symposiums which later became the Association of Diving Contractors International Diving Symposiums
I have also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Diving Contractors and advised them in developing OSHA standards of safe diving practices.
MEMBERSHIPS (Past and Current)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers – member
Association of Diving Contractors – member Board of Director, Symposium Chairman
National Association of Underwater Instructors – instructor, instructor trainer
American Academy of Underwater Scientists – member, researcher, scientist, trainer (diving skills)
Undersea Medical Society – member, committee member
Society of Underwater Technology (Britain), - technical presenter
The British Sub-Aqua Club – member, instructor
Scuba Diving Resource Group – founder, Chairman
Diving Equipment Manufacturers Association – member, committee member, member Board of Directors
Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America – member
Undersea Technology Society – member, technical presenter
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) – member, instructor
San Diego Oceans Foundation
The Explorers Club (Fellow)