A native of Dover, Ohio, Captain Tavis J. Long graduated from Pensacola Christian College in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education (History).  He attended Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and earned his Master of Divinity degree in 2004.  He completed a Doctor of Philosophy from Bethany Divinity College and Seminary in 2006.  In 2013, he received his diploma in Joint Professional Military Education I from the Naval War College; and in 2016 he earned a Master of Arts with a concentration in Ethics and Public Affairs from George Mason University.

His operational tours include battalion chaplain to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, where he deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as command chaplain aboard USS BAINBRIDGE (DDG 96) there he deployed to the Somali Basin to conduct counter-piracy operations in support of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two. He was the Principal Assistant chaplain aboard the USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) where he deployed to the Western Pacific in support of U.S. SEVENTH Fleet operations. He most recently completed an assignment as the WASP Amphibious Ready Group chaplain aboard the USS WASP (LHD 1).
 
Ashore, Captain Long’s assignments include base chaplain to Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, California; Deputy Executive Assistant and Staff Secretary to the Chaplain of the Marine Corps, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; duty under instruction at George Washington University ROTC, Washington, D.C.; and Force Chaplain for Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia. He currently serves as the Force Chaplain for Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Little Creek, Virginia.
 
Captain Long’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, as well as multiple unit and service awards. Captain Long is a Fleet Marine Force Qualified Officer and a Surface Warfare Chaplain Qualified Officer. While fulfilling duty under instruction Captain Long was awarded the Outstanding Philosophy Graduate Award and was a prior Director of the Navy Chaplain Corps’ Ethics Community of Interest.
 

Last Updated: 27 March 2026