Colonel Longwell was born and raised in Wichita, KS. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1983, and after serving as a combat engineer squad leader in the 3rd Marine Division and 1st Marine Division, was transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve to continue his education. Following graduation from The Wichita State University in 1990, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and assigned as a combat engineer officer.
His first assignment in 1992 was with Marine Wing Support Squadron – 373, where he served as construction platoon commander and engineer operations division commander. Inspector-Instructor duty followed in 1995, when First Lieutenant Longwell was assigned as the I&I for Engineer Maintenance Company in Omaha, NE. In 1998, then Captain Longwell was transferred to the U.S. Army’s Advanced Engineer Officer Course in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. After graduation, he was assigned to the Tactical Training Exercise Control Group (TTECG) in Twentynine Palms, CA. As the Engineer Representative Major Longwell taught, controlled and evaluated Combined Arms Breaching and Defensive Operations during 22 Combined Arms Exercises.
In 2000, Major Longwell was transferred to 1st Marine Division, where he served as Operations Officer and then Executive Officer in the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion. In 2002, Major Longwell assumed the duties as 1st Marine Division’s Engineer, and was deployed with the Division Forward command post to Kuwait and Iraq for planning and execution of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2004, Major Longwell graduated the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, KS. He was then assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) in Yuma, AZ. Here he served as the Aviation Ground Support Department Head during 5 Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Courses and 5 Desert Talon Exercises.
In 2006, Lieutenant Colonel Longwell assumed command of Marine Wing Support Squadron – 371 in Yuma, AZ. MWSS-371 deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08. In 2009, Lieutenant Colonel Longwell graduated the Marine Corps War College, receiving a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies. Lieutenant Colonel Longwell was then assigned to the Marine Detachment in Fort Leavenworth, KS. Here he served as Instructor and Division Chief in the Department of Joint Interagency and Multinational Operations (DJIMO) of the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College. In 2012, Colonel Longwell assumed the duties as Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Detachment Fort Leavenworth, KS.