Joe Hipp grew up in Arkansas, Georgia, and Texas. While majoring in Journalism at Texas A&M, he earned a Texas Press Association internship with the San Antonio Express-News. He later worked as a reporter for the Jackson County Democrat, a weekly newspaper, before entering the U.S. Air Force.

After completing navigator training, Joe served as a back-seat crew member in the F-89 Scorpion, later navigating C-124s and C-141s on worldwide missions, as well as a C-47 during his tour in Vietnam. His military career included assignments in England, Germany, and Vietnam. He retired from the Air Force at Randolph AFB in Texas and transitioned into a writing career.

For 25 years, Joe traveled the country in a motor home, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and various church building groups. Along the way, he authored three non-fiction books and two novels. He now resides at the Army Residence Community.