Neal is a member of the US Naval Academy Class of 1975. While there, he earned his BS degree in Aerospace Engineering, organized the Midshipmen Flight Training Program and earned his Private Pilot Certificate at BWI. He earned his Naval Aviator wings in 1976 and flew the A-7E Corsair II with VA-94 on the USS Kitty Hawk. Neal began instructing in A-7s in 1980 with VA-122 at NAS Lemoore, CA. He earned his civilian CFI the same year and became President of the NAS Lemoore Flying Club. Neal left active duty in 1982 and joined the Naval Reserves flying the UC-12B (Beechcraft King Air) from Andrews AFB. He was an instructor at the Navy Annapolis Flying Center from 1996 until 2004. Neal began teaching with Chesapeake Sport Pilot in 2007.
