From the woods of Arkansas, to the deserts of Somalia, and now the industrial job sites of Louisiana, Allen McNeal has always stepped up to serve—with humility, integrity, and purpose. A U.S. Army veteran and longtime member of the Performance Contractors team, Allen brings decades of leadership and experience to everything he does.
Allen joined the Army to protect and serve his country—a value that was very important to his family. “My dad was in the Army, my mom’s dad was in WWII, and my grandfather was in WWI. Both grandfathers served in the Army,” he said. He completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and went on to serve for eight years, holding the rank of Sergeant (E-5).
As a machinist (44E-20), Allen was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he became part of the 3rd Infantry Division, 36th Engineer Group, 13th Corps Support Battalion, 598th Maintenance Company. During a 1993 deployment to Somalia, Allen and his unit played a key support role for U.S. forces on the ground. “We supported all of the Rangers and Special Forces,” he recalled. His company was also part of a pioneering effort in soldier safety: “We were the first Army unit to attach Kevlar to the underside of Humvees to protect soldiers from IEDs.”
At Fort Benning, Allen also played a key role in joint missions that helped train infantry battalions for combat. “Being in the military, I got to travel around the world and meet a lot of great people and learn different ways of life,” he said.
Allen separated from the Army in 1999, but before that, in 1998, he began a new chapter with Performance Contractors. “When I left the military, [construction] was the first job offered to me,” he said. What started as a civil helper position grew into a lifelong career. Over the past 27 years, Allen has worked his way up to staff superintendent and is now a Senior Estimator based out of the Sulphur office.
That leadership experience from the Army gave him an edge early on. “You learn how to respect the people working under your command,” he said. “So when I became a leader in the construction field, it was easier to take charge.”
Allen credits his military background with shaping his approach to work and life. “I brought a good work ethic from the military,” he said. “Being in demanding situations taught me to evaluate the situation and make better decisions before moving forward.”
At Performance, he’s found more than just a job—he’s found community. “The Performance family has always had my back and supported me and my family through any and all situations,” he said. “They’re very veteran-friendly and they support you when you need help dealing with difficult things you’ve dealt with in the military.”
Outside of work, Allen is a proud father of four and grandfather to four more. He’s also deeply involved in the veteran community as Commander of the DeQuincy Memorial VFW Post 3802 and a lifetime member of the VFW. When he’s not estimating projects or mentoring others, you might find him hunting, enjoying the outdoors, or serving as a karaoke DJ in his spare time.
Whether overseas, in the field, or behind the scenes estimating projects, Allen McNeal is a leader who lives by example. We’re proud to share his story and honored to have him as part of the Performance family.
