Mr. McNeill is from Aberdeen, North Carolina. He is a graduate of North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor of Arts in History. While enrolled at NCCU, Mr. McNeill enlisted into the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He entered active duty after graduating. McNeill volunteered to attend US Marine Corps Drill Instructor School and did a subsequent tour of duty as a Drill Instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, from February 1988 through February 1990. Following this tour of duty, McNeill transferred to the Marine Corps Development and Education Command at Quantico Virginia and split duties as the Supply Chief for the Food Service Branch and the 1991 and 1992 Marine Corps Marathon. Additionally, McNeill was attached to Charlie Company, Officer Candidate School as a Sergeant Instructor during the summers.
Honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1993, Mr. McNeill returned to North Carolina and began a new career in education as a Social Studies teacher and coach with the Richmond County School system. In June of 1997, Mr. McNeill returned to the logistics field having been selected to serve as the first ever Warehouse Manager for the City of Lexington, North Carolina. While in Lexington, he reenlisted in the US Army Reserves and served as a Drill Sergeant with the 108th Training Division. Mr. McNeill served with active-duty units at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and at Fort Knox, Kentucky. While at Fort Knox, Then Sergeant First Class McNeill was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for superior performance as a Senior Drill Sergeant. McNeill was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant in 2014, and transferred to the 78th Training Division as an Observer/Coach/Trainer and he retired from the Army Reserves in June of 2020.
In August of 2015, Mr. McNeill was selected to be the Deputy Director for the Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy – New London in Stanly County North Carolina. In November of 2018, Mr. McNeill was promoted and transferred to be the Director at the Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy – Salemburg located in Sampson County, North Carolina. Mr. McNeill, concluded his State of North Carolina career through retirement in June of 2024 and accepted the position of Commandant at SCYCA in July of that same year. After the departure of the previous Director in October, Mr. McNeill decided to lend his experience to SCYCA as it continues to be the premier alternate educational and self-improvement option for troubled, or marginalized youth within South Carolina.
Mr. McNeill attributes his desire to mentor and mold youth directly to six adults he credits with helping him realize his own personal worth and potential for success as a youth. Mr. Layfette Reddick, Mrs. Vickie Walker Murphy, and Coaches Durham Ross, and Johnny Davenport from Pinecrest High School. Coach Larry Cecil and Mr. Huestis from Conway Junior High in Conway, South Carolina, his childhood hometown. Mr. McNeill has adopted the philosophy of, “I know I can’t save every child, but every child is worth the effort.”
