The response of a large area (4.6×13 cm) multianode channel electron multiplier array (CEMA) detector to energetic neutrons was investigated. The measured neutron detection efficiencies of the chevron microchannel plate (MCP) were 1.7×10−3and 6.4×10−3counts/neutron, respectively, for 2.5 MeV‐DD and 14 MeV‐DT neutrons. The apparently higher efficiency observed for the 14 MeV neutrons is attributed to neutron‐induced background gamma radiation.