Roy Scott Petty

Roy Scott Petty, 61, a loving and devoted husband, father, and friend, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2020 in Crownsville, MD after a long illness. Roy was born in Fort Worth, Texas to Lee and Dolores Petty. He attended M.H. Moore Elementary, W.A. Meacham Middle School, and Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School in Fort Worth. He enjoyed Little League baseball and played on his school’s baseball team. While at Diamond Hill-Jarvis, he took one of the school’s first computer science classes. Taking that class sparked a passion that would flourish in the years ahead. After graduating as valedictorian, he worked in newspapers, retail and finance while earning a Business Administration degree at the University of Texas at Arlington. He found himself bored so he sold his car and hitch hiked around Europe for three months and fell in love with the adventure. He called that vacation one of the best decisions he ever made. He came home with an expanded world view, a love of travel and foreign cultures, and new ideas about what his future could look like…all reasons why, at age 27, he joined the Navy and began a 30-year adventure. With his love of technology rekindled it didn’t take long to find his niche in cryptology and cyberspace security. While earning a master’s degree in National Security at the U.S. Naval War College, he would become a military professor there and co-found its Center for Cyber Conflict Studies. Teaching and guiding students provided him with a tremendous sense of personal satisfaction. He advanced in roles of increasing leadership and responsibility and would rise to Captain and Commanding Officer of the Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command. He would later say he was so fortunate to have lived the opportunity of a lifetime and that he rarely had a bad day. He was an inspiring mentor and leader and was known for his enthusiasm, optimism, work ethic, and compassion for others…many colleagues became lifelong friends. Roy retired from the Navy in 2016 but it hardly slowed him down…he had endless energy and a smile and zest for life that lit up the room. One of his favorite expressions was “If you’re not 5 minutes early, you’re late…keep moving!” So, after a brief post-retirement pause, he began consulting for Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, a role he thoroughly relished. In 2019, he was inducted into the Fort Worth Independent Schools District Wall of Fame, which serves to recognize former students who have gone on to distinguish themselves in their careers. At the event, he directly addressed the JROTC students in attendance, encouraging those interested in a military career to have goals and a plan to reach them, and to never give up on pursuing their dreams. An avid Texas Rangers fan, he loved baseball and never missed an opportunity to go to an Orioles game. He studied his family tree extensively and spent several years collecting and organizing photographs across several generations. He loved the outdoors, bicycling, skiing, traveling to visit family and friends, working in the yard, barbecuing on the grill…and occasional home improvements. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his wife Donna and beloved dog Snickers, and he cherished visiting his children, siblings, nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Family meant everything to him. He is survived by his wife, Donna; his children Collin Petty (Hannah) and Erin Petty (with former wife Ann Gallacher Petty, deceased); siblings R. Mark Petty (Veronica), Keith Petty (Corinne), and Michelle Donegan (Patrick); and many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family. His parents, Lee Scott Petty and Dolores Martinez Cordova, are deceased. An interment service was held at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a veteran's organization in Roy's memory.

Roy Scott Petty

July 31, 1958 - March 24, 2020