Gary Wayne Gray was born in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, and has lived a life of leadership, learning, and service. His military career started in 1968 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served until 1976. He served with Company B, 93rd Engineer Battalion, in Vietnam from 1969 to 1972 and saw firsthand the brutality of the war. His experience as a soldier at the time would ultimately shape a large portion of his later work, and enable him to present a realistic and honest evaluation of the Vietnam War.

Following his time in the military, Gray attended college, earning a Bachelor of Science from Warner Pacific University in 1995 and a Master of Counseling from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2003. His public service career has entailed extensive travel around the U.S. and overseas, such as teaching in South Korea and working with human service agencies. His work has been focused in education, mental health, and reintegration of veterans into society.