Chief Warrant Officer Gary Hodgkinson is a native of Winnipeg MB. He enrolled in the Royal Canadian Engineers as an Soldier Apprentice in 1964 in Camp Chilliwack with the 13th Intake where he was trained as a Field Engineer and as a Carpenter. On completion of two years apprentice training in 1966 he was posted to 2 Field Squadron in Camp Gagetown, NB as a Field Engineer/Carpenter.
In 1968 he remustered to the Topographical Survey Trade and was posted to the Mapping and Charting Establishment in Ottawa, ON. During his years at the Mapping and Charting Establishment, he held all of the positions related to the Topographical I Photogrammetric field. On promotion to CWO in 1986, he was appointed Squadron Sergeant Major, Field Survey Squadron and subsequently held the positions of Instructor, Senior Instructor and Standards CWO in the School of Military Survey. In 1989 he was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of the Mapping and Charting Establishment.
On completion of second language training in 1995 CWO Hodgkinson was appointed Canadian Military Engineer Chief Warrant Officer.