Prior to his career as a member of Parliament, Doug Neil distinguished himself as an RCAF navigator, a barrister and solicitor, a Moose Jaw city councillor and an active contributor to his community through such vehicles as the Moose Jaw Wild Animal Regional Park, the Royal Canadian Legion, the United Services Institute and the Moose Jaw Kinsmen and K-40 organizations.
Avant d'être député, Doug Neil s'était distingué comme navigateur dans l'ARC, puis comme avocat, conseiller municipal de Moose Jaw, et membre actif de sa communauté au sein d'organismes tels que le Moose Jaw Wild Aninal Regional Park, la Légion royale canadienne, l'institut interarmées, les Kinsmen de Moose Jaw et les regroupements K-40.