Gary served in the RAF from 1979 to 1993, and then worked for Northumbria Police until 2011.

He has been an elected member of North Tyneside Council since 2012, serving as Armed Forces Champion for eight years, Chair of Council, and Cabinet member for four years Adult Social Care.

Since 2015  he has worked for Project Nova as an early intervention service for Veterans who have contact with the Criminal Justice Service.

He joined Operation Veteran as a Director in 2021.