McNeal is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y. Upon graduation, he earned a Coast Guard-issued Merchant Mariners license as a Third Mate to operate commercial vessels of unlimited tonnage upon oceans worldwide. 

In addition, he earned a commissioned in the Navy Reserve, making lieutenant junior grade prior to commissioning as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserves via an interservice transfer where he attained the rank of captain. He has worked in corporate America in several capacities, primarily in the areas of logistics, transportation, and vessel chartering, as well as shipbuilding. 

He now owns a private practice in Houston focused on providing legal services to veterans, offshore workers, and Texas residents in numerous areas of law, the majority of which is personal injury with a subset specialty of maritime and offshore personal injury.