Joe Miller attended Salina Central High School before enrolling at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School and a master's degree in Resource and Applied Economics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Miller served in the U.S. Army, including deployment in the Persian Gulf War, and was awarded the Bronze Star for leadership. He has held various judicial positions, including acting state District Court judge and part-time U.S. magistrate judge, though his career has been marked by controversies related to misuse of borough computers and deletion of emails.

Joe Miller's political identity is marked by a rigid stance against federal entitlement programs, which he deems unconstitutional, while simultaneously supporting state programs but opposing their expansion. His defense of a local tax on pipeline companies reveals a localized economic approach. Miller's military background and commendations contrast with his controversial judicial conduct, including employing his wife in a judicial role and abruptly resigning from his magistrate position. His ethical controversies, such as deleting emails and facing potential charges, highlight a contentious relationship with governance standards.