Kent was born and raised in Saskatchewan. He began his 35 year career in forensic death investigation as Senior Medical Examiner Investigator for the Alberta Medical Examiners Program in Edmonton followed by a short period as a Transplant Coordinator for the Human Organ Procurement and Exchange Program in Edmonton. He then moved to the Yukon Territory to work as the Chief Coroner before moving to British Columbia to become the Regional Coroner, Lower Mainland. He came to Saskatchewan in 2004 to serve as Chief Coroner and retired in 2017. Kent was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October of 2024 and underwent radiation treatment. He has been actively involved in Prostate Cancer Support Regina since that time.