ACI (AW/SW/FMF) Brock A. McNeal retired on September 5, 2014 from the United States Navy after 20 years of serving our country. A retirement ceremony was held at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.
Air Traffic Control First Class Petty Officer Brock McNeal was born in Montpelier, Ohio on January 31, 1976 to Marsha (Thompson) and Scott McNeal. In November 1994, he enlisted in the Navy and attended basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL. After boot camp, Petty Officer McNeal attended Air Traffic Control “A’ School followed by Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) School at Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC), Millington, TN.
Upon graduation, he was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) homeport, San Diego, CA. While assigned, he qualified Radar Final Controller and advanced to Third Class Petty Officer.
In July 1998, AC3 McNeal transferred to Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC), Pearl Harbor, HI. While onboard, he attained full qualification as Facility Watch Supervisor, advanced to Second Class Petty Officer, and was awarded Command 2001 Junior Sailor of the Year.
In July 2003, he reported to Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia. During his tour, he qualified as a Facility Watch Supervisor and advanced to First Class Petty Officer.
In August 2004, Petty Officer McNeal reported to Marine Corps air Facility, Kaneohe Bay, HI, where he earned full qualification as a Facility Watch Supervisor, completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Aeronautics and was awarded Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Two, 2006 Senior Sailor of the Year.
At the end of 2007, AC1 McNeal reported aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) homeport, Bremerton, WA. In the middle of that tour, he was called upon to work alongside Marine controllers under an Individual Augmentee billet in Al Asad, Iraq. After nine months in theater and completing Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist, he returned to the ship and took over divisional Leading Petty Officer. While onboard, he completed his Aviation Warfare and Surface Warfare Specialist programs and was awarded Command. 2008 Air Traffic Controller of the year.
Petty Officer McNeal’s final tour of duty was at Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC), in Pensacola, FL. He reported in July 2010, quickly certified as an Air Traffic Control Instructor an qualified as Master Training Specialist. He caught Control Tower Operations and Carrier Air Traffic Control Center courses.
AC1)AW/SW/FMF) McNeal has 20 years of mishap free operations while working over six different control facilities throughout the US and abroad. He has been awarded 22 Commendation and Achievement awards to include the 4 Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medals and carious unit awards and service medals. He will be returning home to Northwest Ohio to spend more time with his family and his sons, Adley and Brody.