Kerry B. Long was appointed by President Bush as FAA's Chief Counsel, effective March 5, 2007. He serves as the top legal advisor to the FAA Administrator. He oversees a staff of over 250, including approximately 190 lawyers, located at the agency's Washington headquarters and its 11 regional offices and centers.
Long is responsible for all aspects of FAA's legal work, including its regulatory program, administrative and judicial litigation, nationwide enforcement activities, legislation, alternative dispute resolution, ethics compliance, and legal relations with foreign civil aviation authorities. Long also provides extensive support for FAA's multi-billion dollar procurement and airports programs.
Prior to his appointment, Long served as a partner in the Washington office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. beginning in 2001, focusing his practice on aircraft finance. Long also served as an associate and partner at Perkins Coie L.L.P. in Washington from 1985 to 2000, also focusing on aircraft finance. He began his legal career as a corporate associate at White & Case L.L.P. in New York from 1980 to 1985.
Long received his law degree magna cum laude from Cornell Law School in 1980, and his bachelor's degree in political science from Colgate University in 1972.
Prior to his legal career, Long served in the U.S. Navy aboard the frigate USS Thomas C. Hart (FF-1092) as a division officer and navigator. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant and qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. Long was recognized for his role in the rescue efforts following the collision of USS Belknap (CG-26) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in the Mediterranean Sea in November 1975.
He is a member of the American Bar Association's Aircraft Financing Subcommittee and its Air & Space Forum, and is listed in the Guide to the World's Leading Aviation Lawyers published by Legal Media Group.