Mary Beth Long
Encyclopedia
Mary Beth Long was United States
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
from 2007 to 2009.
, receiving a B.A.
in communication studies
in 1985. During her time as an undergraduate, she studied abroad in Taiwan
, at the National Taiwan University
and at Fu Jen Catholic University
.
Long joined the Directorate of Operations of the Central Intelligence Agency
in 1986, working there until 1999. Her work for the CIA focused on narcotics, weapons of mass destruction
, and terrorism
. While at the CIA, she completed the Clandestine Operations in Dangerous Areas area and underwent paramilitary
training. From May to September 1996, she was Deputy and Acting Chief for the Haiti
Task Force
.
While working at the CIA, Long attended the Washington and Lee University School of Law
and received a J.D.
in 1998. In 1999 she joined Washington, D.C.
law firm
Williams & Connolly
and worked there until 2004.
On May 19, 2004, Long was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics. She became Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
in August 2005. She held that position until December 2007.
On November 8, 2007, President of the United States
George W. Bush
nominated Long to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
. After Senate confirmation, Long was sworn in on December 21, 2007. She held this position until June 2009.
In early 2010, Long joined NeuralIQ Government Services, a firm focused on internet security
, as a senior vice president.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
In America, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs or ASD is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Secretary of Defense on international security strategy and policy on issues of DoD interest related to the governments and defense...
from 2007 to 2009.
Biography
Mary Beth Long was educated at Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in communication studies
Communication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
in 1985. During her time as an undergraduate, she studied abroad in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, at the National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
and at Fu Jen Catholic University
Fu Jen Catholic University
Fu Jen Catholic University is a co-educational Catholic university located in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, Republic of China...
.
Long joined the Directorate of Operations of the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
in 1986, working there until 1999. Her work for the CIA focused on narcotics, weapons of mass destruction
Weapons of mass destruction
A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
, and terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. While at the CIA, she completed the Clandestine Operations in Dangerous Areas area and underwent paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
training. From May to September 1996, she was Deputy and Acting Chief for the Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
Task Force
Task force
A task force is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology...
.
While working at the CIA, Long attended the Washington and Lee University School of Law
Washington and Lee University School of Law
The Washington and Lee University School of Law is a private American Bar Association-accredited law school located in Lexington in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Facilities are currently on the campus of Washington and Lee University in Sydney Lewis Hall...
and received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1998. In 1999 she joined Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly LLP is a prominent litigation firm based in Washington, D.C. The firm was founded by trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams, who left the partnership of D.C. firm Hogan & Hartson to launch his own litigation boutique....
and worked there until 2004.
On May 19, 2004, Long was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics. She became Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
In America, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs or ASD is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Secretary of Defense on international security strategy and policy on issues of DoD interest related to the governments and defense...
in August 2005. She held that position until December 2007.
On November 8, 2007, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
nominated Long to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
In America, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs or ASD is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Secretary of Defense on international security strategy and policy on issues of DoD interest related to the governments and defense...
. After Senate confirmation, Long was sworn in on December 21, 2007. She held this position until June 2009.
In early 2010, Long joined NeuralIQ Government Services, a firm focused on internet security
Internet security
Internet security is a branch of computer security specifically related to the Internet. Its objective is to establish rules and measures to use against attacks over the Internet. The Internet represents an insecure channel for exchanging information leading to a high risk of intrusion or fraud,...
, as a senior vice president.