A seek operation is performed by identifying a seek length of the seek operation and selecting a representation of a deceleration position-velocity profile based on the seek length. Successive demand velocity values are selected during the seek operation by identifying a distance-to-go and a distance-traveled of the seek length, calculating a representation of an acceleration demand velocity based on the identified distance-traveled and a representation of an acceleration position-velocity profile, identifying a representation of a deceleration demand velocity based on the identified distance-to-go and the selected representation of a deceleration position-velocity profile, and selecting the representation of either the acceleration demand velocity or the deceleration demand velocity. The representation of acceleration demand velocity is preferably performed by using a first scaling factors based on the seek length to adjust the identified distance-traveled, and using a second scaling factor based on the seek length to adjust a representation of a demand velocity of a normalized position-velocity profile.