Title: Principal laboratory mechanician

His job: Together with Mick Franssen, manages the ME Student Machine Shop in the basement of Etcheverry Hall, a workshop open to ME, NE   and CEE students. Trains students to safely operate shop machines and tools. Provides guidance for students designing and manufacturing components for projects.

Impact: Trains 150 students per semester; supports project-based classes and Cal’s solar, Formula SAE and Supermileage vehicle teams and the Steel Bridge team.

Accolades: ME honor society Pi Tau Sigma’s Instructor of the Year Award 2005; Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award 2003

Memorable projects he’s seen: A variable velocity bike headlight, which optimized the light beam as you pedaled faster for improved night vision, and a pizza slicing machine.

All in the family: His father began as a Navy aviation machinist; his grandfather was a tool and die maker.

What you didn’t know: In 1991, he danced with a Japanese modern dance and theater troupe, Harupin-Ha, and performed in Tokyo.

Hobbies: Collects Japanese carpentry tools and plays old time, country and ragtime tunes on the guitar.

Last word: “It’s okay to make mistakes here,” Long says. “If a part doesn’t turn out the way you envisioned, that’s okay. We’re not grading you. It’s all part of learning. The most satisfying part of my job is giving students some hands-on experience so they can not only design things but also manufacture them.”