Timothy Long Obituary

Timothy R. Long, a resident of Colorado Springs for 40 years, passed away at the age of 90 on 21 October, 2009. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years Hilda; son Joe and granddaughter Monica Rose; son Mike and his wife Julie; sisters Hannah Thomas, Mary Stewart, Louise Peairs and Patricia Bornyas; and brothers Fred, William, Eugene and Robert. He was preceded in death by his beloved son John T. Long; brothers Richard, Dr. Francis Long, and Major John A. Long (Purple Heart, Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross recipient). Tim was born in 1919 in Duquesne, PA to Francis P. (Red) and Henrietta (Weir) Long. He interrupted his college studies at Duquesne University to enlist in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1941 at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Tim was assigned to the 1st Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion and stationed at the Army Air Corps School of Applied Tactics at Orlando, FL where he was involved with the design, fabrication, installation, and testing of radio and radar systems. In 1944 he was selected to attend an advanced course at MIT where he participated with the Radiation Laboratory team in the design and fabrication of the original V-beam radar system. Tim received an honorable discharge in 1945, and in 1947 he joined the civil service with the U.S. Army Air Force at the Air University Air Tac School at Tyndall Field, FL. From 1950 to 1952 he served as Technical Advisor to the Commander of the USAF Weapons Controller School (ATC). From 1952 to 1958, he served as Wing Communications-Electronics Staff Officer for both Air Training Command and later, the Air Defense Command. From 1959 to 1966, he served as Director of Communications-Electronics for the 73rd Air Division. While at Tyndall, Tim helped in the development of the Air Defense Weapons Center to become the most elaborate and sophisticated firing and scoring range for air defense interceptors using live weapons against live targets. In 1966, Tim transferred to Gunter AFB and was appointed Director of Communications-Electronics, 14th Air Force and Southern NORAD Region. He was later recognized as being the only civilian to have ever held the position of Director of Communications-Electronics for both an Air Force and a NORAD/CONAD unit. He was selected to attend the Air War College Class of 1969 at Maxwell AFB, AL and after completion was assigned as Deputy Director of Communications-Electronics for the Air Defense Command at Ent AFB, CO. In 1973, the staffs of NORAD, ADCOM and ADC were combined and Tim continued to serve as Deputy Director of Communications-Electronics for the combined staff. In 1982 the Air Force Space Command was established at Peterson Air Force Base where he finished his DOD career as Technical Advisor to the senior communications, electronics and computer systems staff officer, a Major General position. Tim retired from federal service in 1995 after 54 years of combined military and civilian service. He then continued working as a consultant to Kaman Industries, and in 1997 he retired for the last time to stay home and take care of his yard fulltime. Tim was awarded the Superior Accomplishment Award on two separate occasions, was nominated to the Communications and Information Hall of Fame in 2004, was nominated as Federal Employee of the Year for the 14th Air Force, received an Outstanding Service award for establishing NORAD's offsite test Facility, a Meritorious Service Award from AFCEA and received his fifty year Federal Civil Service pin. He was a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Air War College and was a member of AFCEA, The American Legion, AFA, and NARFE. Tim will be missed by his family, friends and colleagues. The family is especially appreciative of their neighbors for the fun times over the many years, and for doing what neighbors do best by being there when needed the most. They can rest assured that he is now in a higher place with a new chair and a much better vantage point to continue to watch over them. Funeral Services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful� Chapel with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Entombment will be at Shrine of Remembrance. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Pikes Peak Hospice.