Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Georgia honored the life and legacy of Captain Joanne Sexton, the command’s first Commanding Officer and the founding dean of Augusta University’s School of Computer and Cyber Sciences (SCCS), by dedicating the headquarters conference room in her honor. The dedication recognizes Captain Sexton’s pioneering leadership, lasting contributions to the Information Warfare community, and enduring impact on the fields of cybersecurity and computer science.

Sexton was born in New Jersey in 1953 and joined the Navy in 1975 after attending Rutgers University. She became a cryptologist and distinguished herself early in her career, becoming the first junior Navy officer assigned to the Pentagon. She later earned two master’s degrees, developed expertise across information technology and cybersecurity, and rose to the rank of commander.

In 1995, Sexton established the Navy Information Operations Command Georgia (NIOC GA) at Fort Gordon and served as its first female commanding officer until her Navy retirement in 1999. She then transitioned to higher education, joining Augusta University as a computer science professor.

Her greatest legacy came from her leadership in building Augusta University’s cybersecurity programs. In 2015, she became the director of the university’s Cyber Institute and led efforts to establish cybersecurity education, research, workforce development, and outreach. Under her leadership, Augusta University achieved its first NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education designation in 2016. She also helped secure major federal grants, recruited faculty, developed cybersecurity programs, supported K-12 initiatives, and launched GenCyber camps.

In 2017, the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences was established, with Sexton serving as its founding dean. She helped establish the foundation for the school’s later growth, including its second NSA designation in Cyber Operations in 2024. Colleagues credit her vision and leadership with helping transform Augusta into a major cybersecurity education and innovation center.

Beyond academia, Sexton supported the broader cybersecurity community through organizations and events such as BSidesAugusta, local information-security groups, and initiatives connecting education with the cybersecurity workforce.

She retired from the university in 2020 but continued teaching part-time. Friends and colleagues remember her not only for her professional accomplishments but also as a mentor, teacher, team builder, and friend. She died in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, surrounded by loved ones. Her legacy continues through Augusta University’s cybersecurity programs, the professionals she mentored, and the students and colleagues she inspired.

On September 19, 2025, Captain Joanne Sexton died.  She is survived by her mother, Helen Sexton of Boynton Beach, FL, and sister, Laura Nagle, and husband John of Horseshoe Bay, TX.