Lieutenant Commander Michael S. McNeal, USN Retired, hails from Montgomery County, GA. He joined the Navy in 1995, completing Boot Camp at Great Lakes, IL, and Aviation Electronics Technician training in Millington, TN. After F-14B Tomcat training, he served with VF-103 Jolly Rogers, deploying twice on USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, earning his Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist Wings.Onshore, he worked at AIMD Oceana as Production Supervisor and later as Leading Petty Officer in the Intermediate Avionics Test Station. He then served with VF-213 Blacklions, deploying with USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT for the final F-14 cruise and transitioning to the F/A-18F Super Hornet. Named VFA-213 Sailor of the Year in 2007, he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer.As Chief, he joined VFA-106 Gladiators, earning a commission through the Limited Duty Officer program in 2009. As Ensign with VFA-31 Tomcatters, he held various maintenance roles, deploying on USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH and earning accolades for his performance.Promoted to LTJG in 2011, he oversaw maintenance at CNATRA Detachment Corpus Christi and was promoted to LT in 2013. On USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, he served in multiple roles, deploying in 2015 and earning his Professional Aerospace Maintenance Officer Warfare Wings.In 2018, he joined HSM-74 Swamp Foxes, deploying on USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER during COVID-19. Selected for LCDR in March 2020, he deployed in 2021 as Aircraft Maintenance Officer onboard USS IWO JIMA, supporting the Afghanistan withdrawal. McNeal earned a Bachelor's in Technical Management (2022) and a Master's in Project Management (2024), alongside several military awards. He and his wife Pamela have been married for 19 years and reside in Green Cove Springs, FL.

My 27-year career in the Navy took me to far and remote places all over the world and I am excited to share those experiences with other travelers. I am retired from the service now and focused on delivering customer-oriented service in cruise, land tours, and luxury cruise products and services.