Robert Long gets $350K contract as Space Florida’s new president
Space Florida’s board of directors has unanimously approved an employment contract offering a $350,000 annual salary to retired U.S. Space Force Col. Robert Long, who is slated to start work in two weeks as the organization’s next president and CEO.
Long will replace the retiring Frank DiBello, who has led Space Florida since May 2009.
“Today marks a really important chapter in the history of Space Florida. As you know, Florida is the undisputed launch capital of the world. And we’ve seen tremendous growth in the commercial sector of our industry. And it’s really exciting, all of the great accolades that we’ve been able to accomplish under the leadership of this board,” Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, who chairs the board, said Tuesday morning before announcing the employment agreement.
“And just this year alone, we’ve seen over 60 rockets launch from Florida. So we’re on pace to nearly double our output from 2022. All of this to say that Florida is well on its way to continue serving as the premier gateway to space,” Nuñez said.
Long previously commanded Space Launch Delta 30 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Last month, the Space Florida board of directors selected Long over two other finalists during a meeting in Orlando. The other finalists:
● Air Force Maj. Gen. John Olson, mobilization assistant to the chief of space operations at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
● Dale Nash, former chief executive of Virginia Space and a BRPH project executive with 42 years of experience.
Since that Aug. 28 meeting, board member Rodney Cruise has led employment contract negotiations with Long. Cruise is chief operating officer and senior vice president at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Long’s contract, which takes effect Oct. 2, calls for a $350,000 salary plus benefits and a $1,000 monthly travel stipend. He must report to work at the agency’s district office at Cape Canaveral.
“As this meeting wraps up, Robert Long is ready to sign the contract,” Cruise told the board during Tuesday’s meeting.
DiBello announced his pending retirement in March. He earns $325,000 per year.
“I’d also like to personally thank Frank DiBello for his unwavering dedication and commitment and his service to Space Florida, plus the entirety of the state of Florida, for all these years of hard work,” Nuñez said.
“We look forward to celebrating Frank’s contributions in the very near future,” she said.
According to a resolution appointing Long as president, “Space Florida’s purpose is to foster the growth and development of a sustainable and worldleading aerospace industry within the state of Florida and to promote
aerospace business development by facilitating business financing, spaceport operations, research and development, workforce development and innovative education programs.”