Joanne Sexton, the founding dean of Augusta University’s School of Computer and Cyber Sciences (SCCS), has died in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. Her career was marked by significant contributions to cyber education and the growth of Augusta University’s role in cybersecurity.
Born in 1953 in Plainfield, New Jersey, Sexton was the youngest daughter of Edward and Helen Sexton. According to her sister Laura Nagle, Sexton’s early interest in hands-on projects and determination to excel were evident from a young age. “We grew up in a home where there wasn’t anything our dad couldn’t make or build, and she always was his helper… if you’re going to do anything, make sure you do it the best you can, and I think that’s what brought her to where she is,” Nagle said.
After graduating from New Providence High School and attending Rutgers University—where she played on the university’s first women’s basketball team—Sexton joined the U.S. Navy in 1975. She earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Rutgers in 1978. The Navy recognized her aptitude for numbers and mechanics, leading her into cryptology. She became the first junior Navy officer assigned to work at the Pentagon.
Her military career included earning two master’s degrees: one in military applied sciences from the Naval Postgraduate School and another in computer science from the United States Naval War College. Sexton rose to become a naval commander and established the joint Navy Information Operations Command Georgia (NIOC GA) at Fort Gordon in 1995—a pioneering effort combining Navy and Army command with an emphasis on cybersecurity.
After retiring from the Navy in 1999 with over 20 years of experience, Sexton joined Augusta State University as an assistant professor teaching coding and computer science. In response to growing cybersecurity needs following the relocation of U.S. Army Cyber Command to Fort Gordon, Augusta University leaders selected Sexton to lead efforts establishing cyber programs at AU.
Karen Ribble, who worked closely with Sexton during this period, recalled: “After the event [Cyber Georgia Summit], I was on a call with a small group of AU leadership… Dr. Rychly… said, ‘I think we’ve got the perfect candidate… Joanne Sexton of computer science.’”
In 2015, Sexton became director of Augusta University’s Cyber Institute. Ribble joined as assistant director while Sexton focused on building academic programs and hiring faculty.
Michael Nowatkowski, current director of the Cyber Institute at AU, was one of those hires: “She was always very helpful and provided assistance learning all the systems here, as well as introducing me to grant opportunities.” Nowatkowski credits Sexton for securing grants such as the Department of Defense’s Information Assurance Scholarship Program for students each year and writing proposals that led to awards like the National Science Foundation Scholarship for Service grant received by AU in 2021.
Under her leadership, Augusta University became one of Georgia’s first institutions designated by the National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) in 2016. By late 2024, SCCS had also been designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations—making AU unique within Georgia for holding both distinctions.
“She was also very good at building teams… I wouldn’t be working here if it wasn’t for Joanne,” Nowatkowski said.
Sexton’s commitment extended beyond higher education; she helped launch NSA GenCyber camps for high school students across Georgia and South Carolina and supported organizations like BSidesAugusta—a local cybersecurity conference—as well as community groups including CSRA Linux Users Group and Greater Augusta ISSA.
Doug Burks, founder and CEO of Security Onion Solutions—and former student—said: “She taught in a very practical manner… Joanne had an incredible career with many amazing accomplishments but remained humble.”
In less than four years after becoming director of AU’s Cyber Institute, she became founding dean when SCCS launched in 2017. “She really was at the forefront of everything cyber in the Augusta community… She was instrumental in a lot of those programs that we have now that are under the current dean; they were all her brainchild,” Ribble said.
Though retiring officially from full-time duties at SCCS in 2020, Sexton continued teaching part-time until recently.
“Joanne was a dear friend and a wonderful colleague. Her leadership … cannot be overstated,” said Alexander Schwarzmann, current dean of SCCS. “Joanne’s legacy lives on … [in] our school … programs she shaped … students and colleagues she lifted along the way.”
A celebration of life will take place Nov. 4 at The Foundry at Rae’s Creek; military burial will follow later.
