Dr. Joel Cox

Dr. Joel Cox has a distinguished criminal justice career spanning more than two decades.   He started his career in the Virginia State Police as a Trooper, worked as a Sheriff’s Deputy for a brief stint, until he settled into local law enforcement work. He worked for Virginia Beach Police Department for over two decades and had the roles of patrol officer, community policing officer, property crimes detective, robbery detective, homicide detective, patrol sergeant, community policing sergeant, full-time SWAT team leader, patrol lieutenant, and retired as an Executive Officer (LT) of a precinct. While in robbery and Homicide, he investigated over 200 violent crimes against persons. During his tenue in Virginia Beach, he earned over 35 awards, commendations, and letters of appreciation for his exceptional work.  He is known as a project innovator with experience as: the Public Safety Subject Matter Expert for the Pembroke Strategic Growth Area 4 Implementation Plan, creator of the combat casualty care program, creator of the HOPE Program for officer mental health, precinct level CALEA manager, grant manager for several high-end law enforcement grants, to name a few things. Dr. Cox had a passion for instructing while he was in law enforcement. Since 1994, He has taught courses such as: interview and interrogation, CPR AED, combat casualty care, emotional survival program for LEO’s, and a high-end 16-week leadership program called West Point Leadership (WPL).

Dr. Joel Cox started as an adjunct professor at his alma mater local community college in 2007.  His experience since 2007 spans several universities and community colleges.  In 2010, he started as an online adjunct professor in criminal justice at Liberty University. In 2011, he joined the residential campus as an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Government. A while later, he was promoted to Associate Professor and Online and Residential Criminal Justice Chair. As Chair, Dr. Cox created the Online Master of Criminal Justice program and the PhD in Criminal Justice program. Dr. Cox was again promoted to Full Professor and eventually was promoted to Associate Dean. In his last year of full-time service to the Helms School of Government, Dr. Cox was the Interim Dean of the School of Government.

Education 

  • Associate of Science degree in Business Administration – Tidewater Community College

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting – Old Dominion University

  • Master of Public Administration – Troy university

  • Doctorate (EdD) in Organizational Leadership and Conflict Resolution – Nova Southeastern University

  • 18 additional hours of master’s level coursework in Criminal Psychology – Nova Southeastern university

  • 18-hour post doctorate (PhD level courses) certificate in Criminal Justice – North Central University