Cleon Long is a native of Newport News and a proud product of the Newport News Public School System.

As a youth, he volunteered with various organizations such as St. Francis Nursing Home, tutoring students in the local Newport News schools, serving on the Newport News Superintendent’s Education Advisory Group, as well as being involved with the Mayor’s Youth Commission, and the Youth Task Force for the Newport News City Planning Commission.

After graduating high school, he went on to attend college in Atlanta, GA receiving a B.S. in General Science from Morehouse College and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. Upon graduating from college, Cleon decided to return back to his hometown in 2004. In 2011, Cleon obtained a Professional Engineering License. He is currently an engineer with Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding.

Cleon is married to a high school classmate and has two children. As a family, they enjoy relaxing at the Lion’s Bridge, attending local summer concerts at Port Warwick, spending time with family and friends as well as weekly Mass.

Cleon is passionate about supporting small businesses and ensuring all individuals have access to safe, affordable, and quality housing; employment opportunities; and quality education.

Community
Involvement

• Board of Directors for Smart Beginnings Virginia Peninsula, July 2021 – Present

• Member of Newport News Board of Zoning Appeals, July 2020 – December 2022

• Board of Directors for Boys and Girls Club of the VA Peninsula, January 2020 – December 2022

• Board of Trustees for Virginia Living Museum, July 2018 – Present

• Board Representative to Virginia Living Museum, July 2016 - June 2018

• Member of Newport News Planning Commission, March 2008 - January 2016

  • Past Vice Chair, Jan 2014 – Dec 2014

• Member of Warwick Rotary Club, April 2006 - Current

  • Past Club President, July 2010 – Jun 2011

• Board of Directors for Girls Scouts of the Colonial Coast, March 2007 – March 2009

• Member of Newport News Commission on Youth, November 2004 – December 2009