Chief Warrant Officer D.A. Gardner

Regimental Sergeant Major, 1998-2000

CWO Douglas A. Gardner was born in Owen Sound, Ontario on 8 May 1956.  He completed his early education in London, Ontario.  He graduated from High School in 1974 in Ottawa.  He began his military training in 1969, enrolling in the 2360 Cameron Highlander of Ottawa Cadet Corps as a piper.  He moved on to the militia in September 1973.  As a reservist he was trained as a mobile support equipment operator and a vehicle technician.  In 1976, he completed a United Nation tour in Ismailia, Egypt.  Upon return he left military duty and joined the London City Police Force in Ontario, but the light of military life shone brighter so in March 1978 he enrolled as a Crewman 011 and was sent West to Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians).  His initial tour of Regimental duty was with A Squadron in Cyprus, his second UN tour.

After achieving the rank of Sergeant and qualifying as an Advanced Armoured Gunner, he was posted to the Armour School in CFB Gagetown in 1984.  During this posting he was employed as a Gunnery instructor and a member of the Instructor Gunnery Team.

In 1987, CWO Gardner was posted to the US Army Armor Center, Weapons Department, Fort Knox, KY, USA.  After attaining the qualifications of Master Gunner Instructor M1/M1S1 Abrams tanks he was employed as a gunnery instructor in the Master Gunner Branch.

In 1990, CWO Gardner returned to Regimental duty in Calgary once again serving in A Squadron.  During this tour he was promoted to Master Warrant Officer and served as the Squadron Sergeant-Major C Squadron and Headquarters Squadron.  As the Sergeant-Major Headquarters Squadron, he completed his third UN tour, this time with UNPROFOR in Visoko, Bosnia.  In July 1995, he was posted to NDHQ for second language training.  On completion it was off to CFB Suffield to fill the position of Base Regimental Sergeant-Major.

CWO Gardner assumed the duties of Regimental Sergeant-Major of Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) during the period of June 1998 until November 2000. 

He resides in Edmonton with his wife Alannah, son Devon, and daughter Ashlinn.