Noël earned his Doctor of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2018, where he previously completed work-study at its Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families. His doctoral capstone project creates a family and peer program for supporting moral injury interventions among veterans. In 2018 the Canadian Government brought him before their Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs at The House of Commons, to testify on their inquiry of Barriers to Transition. Noël served in various Air Force, Army, and joint assignments from 1996 to 2016. He volunteered to serve as a Counter-IED Officer for Army Airborne Infantry units that conducted full-spectrum counterinsurgency operations in Southern Afghanistan, 2007 - 2008. Noël medically retired from the military as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2016. He currently facilitates The Gary Sinise Foundation's "Brothers At War" resiliency seminars nationwide.

Noël is a founding Board member and former President of the David J. Drakulich Art Foundation (DJDAF), which empowers and showcases veterans' wellness. Noël was the grant manager for DJDAF’s design, content, and implementation of the National Endowment for the Humanities grant, “Dialogues on the Experiences of War” discussion groups focusing on “Duty: War’s Impact on Women.” Dr. Lipana was also a course developer and adjunct instructor for the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Doctor of Social Work program. He developed and taught “Effectively Engaging Organizations and Communities” for the Leadership and Administration concentration.

Noël put that expertise to work from 2020 to 2025 as a Regional Prevention Coordinator in the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, Department of Homeland Security. forming multi-disciplinary partnerships among community-based organizations and government entities at local, state, tribal, and federal levels to create whole-of-society prevention frameworks to prevent targeted violence and terrorism.

In January of 2020, California Baptist University launched its Doctor of Social Work program by recognizing Noël and awarding him the “Fulfilling the Dream Award” for outstanding contribution to the field of Social Work and leadership in Community Engagement and Social Innovation. Disabled American Veterans - California Chapter named him their Veteran of the Year. Noël earned his Bachelor of Science and commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1996. He graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Master’s Program in 2011 with a Master of Arts in Security Studies.