Paul Lynn McNeill

May 26, 1956 – January 4, 2026

Captain Paul Lynn McNeill, U.S. Navy (retired), passed away on January 4, 2026, from complications related to a recurrent brain tumor.

Paul graduated from Richland High School in Richland, Washington—a city originally built to house workers supporting the Hanford Project, one of three sites involved in the development of the atomic bomb. He earned a B.A. from Washington State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Washington, followed by completion of the Executive Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

Paul served with distinction in the U.S. Navy from 1978 to 2005, retiring as a Captain. During his career, he served as a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in the Philippine Sea; then transferred to the Naval Supply Center, Puget Sound (Bremerton, Washington), as a comptroller until 1994. He attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and upon completion in 1995 became the Commanding Officer of the Allied Command Atlantic Communications Logistics Depot (ACLANT CLD) in Yorktown, Virginia, a NATO command. In 1998, Commander (CDR) McNeill transferred to the staff of Commander, Task Force 53 (CTF 53), serving as Requirements Officer, Deputy Commander, and Acting Commander. In 1999, CDR McNeill transferred to Manama, Bahrain. Upon returning to the United States, CDR McNeill served as comptroller at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia. In 2000, he transferred to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, as Comptroller. In 2002, CDR McNeill was recognized for leading 230 Naval Special Warfare (NSW) and technical support personnel in providing a full range of logistics and other support services to the Group Staff, four SEAL Teams, a SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team, three overseas NSW units, and various deployed SEAL platoons and NSW task units. He managed 160,000 items of special operations and civil engineering support equipment valued at more than $63 million, a $5.4 million annual operating budget, and a $15 million military construction program supporting 11 component commands on two continents. Other assignments followed prior to his final role, but they remain classified. His last assignment before retirement was Business Officer for Navy Region Northwest (Kitsap, Washington), responsible for the operation and management of naval shore installations.

In recognition of his service, CDR McNeill received three Defense Service medals, two Navy Meritorious Service medals, two Navy Commendation medals, two Navy Achievement medals, two National Service medals, one Navy Expeditionary medal, and five service ribbons.

Upon retirement from the U.S. Navy, Paul served as Comptroller for the Kitsap School District in Kitsap County, Washington.

In 2007, Paul relocated to Harper Woods, Michigan, to be with his partner, Rosemary Gugino. He became the Supervisor of Piquette Square for Veterans in Detroit, providing affordable housing for 150 homeless veterans.

For fun, Paul joined the Indian Village Tennis Club and volunteered as Treasurer. He was an active member of the First Christian Reformed Church of Detroit. A lifelong NASCAR fan, he took part in the Randy Wallace Driving Experience, driving car No. 7 at Michigan International Speedway.

Paul is survived by his partner, Rosemary; his brother, Jeff McNeill, and sister in law, Christine; his children, John, Michael, Sarah McNeill Johnson, and Matthew; his children’s respective spouses, Tiffany, Revellee, Marcus, and Rachel; and his grandchildren, Elijah, Zechariah, Zipporah, Zaidan, Ciaran, Brendan, and Nizhoni. He was preceded in death by his stepson, David Salem.

Donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans online at dav.org.

A memorial service will be held at First Christian Reformed Church (CRC) of Detroit, 1444 Maryland Street, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, on February 21, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., with a luncheon to follow at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Dr., Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236.